endocrine disorders Flashcards
(165 cards)
hormone producing cells of thyroid gland
follicular cells and parafollicular cells
follicular cells
produce, store and release thyroxine (t4) and triiodothyronine (t3) (active forms); major regulators of the basal metabolic rate
parafollicular cells “c cells”
secrete calcitonin, hormone that has minor role in maintaining calcium homeostasis
what is the rate limiting step in thyroid hormone synthesis
follicular cells capturing iodide from circulation
s/sx of thyroid nodule
pain, pressure, or hoarseness may suggest local invasiveness and should be assessed
evaluation of thyroid nodule/mass
palpate while pt swallows; indirect/direct laryngoscopy (hoarseness,pain, malig); TSH test and thyroid function test; serum Ca levels (hx radiation or MEN); FNA*; US
what does low level tsh suggest
thyrotoxicosis
what does high level of tsh suggest
underactivity (assoc w Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
what does thyroid function test include
TSH and T4, sometimes T3
if pt has Grave’s ds what thyroid tests should be ordered
t4, t3, tsh, tbg, tsab only if toxic symptoms
pt related to someone w men2 should have what test
urinary catecholamines and catecholamine metabolites screened for functional pheochromocytoma
what is the only thyroid cancer that reliably expresses a tumor marker that is measurable in serum (calcitonin)
medullary carcinoma
pheochromocytoma
neoplasm of the adrenal medulla; arises from chromaffin tissue of neural crest origin; secretes excess epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, or other vasoactive amine; causes a constellation of signs and symptoms as a result of catecholaminemia; associated with the familial endocrine syndromes multiple endocrine neoplasia types 2A (MEN-2A) and 2B (MEN-2B)
single most important study in evaluating a thyroid mass
fine needle aspiration cytology
grading system of fna of thyroid nodule
follicular cells (5% risk), follicular cells w atypic (25%), suspicious for papillary carcinoma (75-95), papillary carcinoma (100%)
tx solid thyroid nodule low risk for malignancy on fna
observation 3-6m while on oral thyroid hormone to suppress TSH stimulation of tumor growth (suppress to mid-low range w careful monitoring); remains same size then reaspirated; larger=excised
suppression TSH to very low levels inc risk for
osteoporosis and new onset atrial fibrillation
tx thyroid nodule w cancer
thyroid lobectomy and isthmectomy to remove ipsilateral lobe of thyroid gland along with isthmus; or complete thyroidectomy removes the full tumor
why should frozen sample of thyroid not be used to analyze for cancer
causes great deal of distortion and dx is often subtle
performing lobectomy or total thyroidectomy, great care is taken to preserve what
parathyroid glands and their blood supply; recurrent laryngeal nerve and external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (voice quality)
injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid lobectomy causes
paralysis of ipsilateral vocal cord which becomes immobile in paramedic position; leaves pt w weak, breathy voice; (if thyroidectomy b/l injury causes loss of speech and airway control and requires tracheostomy)
mc cause of hyperthyroidism
Grave’s ds or diffuse toxic goiter
Grave’s ds
autoimmune thyrotoxicosis
goiter
thyroid enlargement