Diseases Conditions Procedures (Endocrine)

Question 1

Cushing syndrome

Answer 1

Cluster of symptoms caused by excessive amounts of cortisol (glucocorticoid) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) circulating the blood; may be due to the use of oral corticosteroid medication or by tumors that produce cortisol or ACTH. Symptoms can include: thinning hair, buffalo hump, moon face, super clavicle fat pad, increased body and facial hair, slow wound healing, purple striae, pendulous abdomen, thin extremities, easy bruising.

Question 2

Diabetes mellitus (DM)

Answer 2

Group of metabolic diseases characterized by high glucose levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, action, or both and that occur in two primary forms: type 1 and type 2

Question 3

Type 1 diabetes

Answer 3

Abrupt onset of DM, usually in childhood, caused by destruction of beta islet cells of the pancreas with complete deficiency of insulin secretions

Question 4

Type 2 dilate tees

Answer 4

Gradual onset of DM, usually appearing in middle age and caused by a deficiency in production of insulin or a resistance to the action of insulin by the cells of the body

Question 5

Insulinoma

Answer 5

Tumor of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas

[insuilin=insulin; -oma =tumor]

Question 6

Pancreatitis

Answer 6

Inflammation of the pancreas that occurs when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the duodenum and attack pancreatic tissue, causing damage to the gland; most commonly caused by alcoholism and biliary tract disease
[pancreat=pancreas; -itis=inflammation]

Question 7

Panhypopituitarism

Answer 7

Total pituitary impairment that brings about a progressive and General loss of hormone activity
[pan-=all; hyp/o=under, below, deficient; pituitar= pituitary gland; -ism=condition]

Question 8

Pheochromocytoma

Answer 8

Rare adrenal gland tumor that causes excessive release of epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (hormones that regulate heart rate and blood pressure) and induces severe blood pressure elevation

Question 9

Fasting blood glucose (FBG)

Answer 9

Test that measures glucose levels in the blood after the patient has fasted (not eaten) for at least 8 hours; used to diagnose pancreatic disorders, such as diabetes and hypoglycemia; aka “fasting blood sugar (FBS)”

Question 10

Glucose tolerance test (GTT)

Answer 10

Test in which a patient fast for 8-12 hours and then ingests glucose, and blood samples are taken to determine how quickly the glucose is cleared from the blood; used to diagnose diabetes with hit her accuracy than other blood glucose tests; aka “oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)”

Question 11

Radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU)

Answer 11

Imaging procedure that measures levels of radioactivity in the thyroid after oral or intravenous administration of radioactive iodine; used to determine thyroid function by monitoring the ability of the thyroid to take up (uptake) iodine form the blood.

Question 12

Thyroid function test (TFT)

Answer 12

Blood test that measure thyroid hormone levels to detect an increase or decrease in thyroid function

Question 13

Total calcium

Answer 13

Blood test that measures calcium to detect parathyroid and bone disorders

Question 14

Lobectomy

Answer 14

Removal of one lobe in treatment of endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism
[lob=lobe; -ectomy= excision, removal]

Question 15

Thymectomy

Answer 15

Excision of the thymus gland in cases of myasthenia gravies or a tumor
[thym=thymus gland; -ectomy = excision, removal]

Question 16

Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy

Answer 16

Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery that removes pituitary tumors through the nasal cavity via the sphenoid sinus (transsphenoidal) without affecting brain

Question 17

Addison Disease

Answer 17

Hypofunctioning of the adrenal cortex that results in generalized malaise, weakness, muscle atrophy, severe loss of fluids and electrolytes, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and hyper pigmentation of the skin.

Question 18

Thyroid Disorders

Answer 18

Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyromegaly.
Common, may develop at any age. Result of developmental problems, injury, disease, or dietary deficiency. Treatment=good prognosis; untreated= medical emergencies or irreversible disabilities.
*cretinism (hypothyroidism): infants, untreated leads to mental retardation, impaired growth, low body temp, abnormal bone formation. Symptoms don’t usually appear at birth because of thyroid hormones received from mother.
*myxedema (hypothyroidism): adults, edema, low blood levels of thyroid hormones, weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, depression, muscle/joint pain, and sluggishness. Recovery may be successful if thyroid hormone is administered soon after symptoms appear.
*graves disease (hyperthyroidism): metabolic imbalance, autoimmune disease, enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), multiple system changes. Characterized by an elevated metabolic rate, abnormal weight loss, excessive perspiration, muscle weakness, emotional instability, eyes protrude (exophthalmos).

Question 19

Pituitary gland disorders

Answer 19

Growth Hormone (GH) synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for normal growth of bones, cartilage, and soft tissue. Several disorders involve GH.

• hyposecretion during childhood slowed bone growth and results in underdevelopment of the body- hypopituitarism; aka pituitary dwarfism. Extremely short height- 3-4 feet but normal body proportions. May be linked to other defect and a carrying degree of mental retardation. Treatment: administration of GH in childhood, before skeletal growth is complete.
• hypersecretion during childhood causes abnormal increase in length of long bones and results in a disorder known as gigantism. Individual grows to be very tall (may be 8 feet) but body proportions are about normal. Although BBall players are tall they are not considered Giants. May be related to genetic makeup and healthy nutrition.
• hypersecretion after puberty is known as Acromegaly-an overgrowth of bones of the face, hands, and feet. Usually 30-40yo individuals. May have joint pain from osteoarthritis and other clinical features in the body systems. A pituitary tumor may be the cause. Affects women and men equally. Treatment-surgical removal of the tumor or tumor destruction by radiation.