Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

ZA - Endocrine System > Pathology of the Endocrine System > Flashcards

Pathology of the Endocrine System Flashcards

(77 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is hyperplasia?

A

An increased number and secretory activity of cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is atrophy?

A

Wasting of cells due to lack of stimulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Causes of endocrine tissue damage?

A 
Inflammation
Autoimmune
Disease
Compression
Trauma
Infarction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a neoplasia?

A

The presence or formation of new, abnormal growth of tissue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Types of neoplasia affecting endocrine glands?

A

Adenoma

Carcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

An adenoma can be…

A

Functioning or non-functioning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A carcinoma can be…

A

Primary or metastatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What else can cause an endocrine disease?

A

A congenital abnormality?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do we determine the cause of the pathology?

A

Morphological findings

Measinging hormone levels, hormone regulators and metabolites in blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are some general considerations when should remember in endocrine disease?

A

Disease in 1 gland may effect other glands, or have multi-organ effects

Feedback loops may be effected causing changes in glands

Endocrine organs have a high reserve capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does the thyroid gland do?

A

Synthesizes, stores and releases triiodo-thyronine, thyroxine and calcitonin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the histology of a thyroid gland?

A

Has circular follicles
Inside of circle called colloid and it contains thyroglobulin
C cells are not visable but secrete calcitonin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.

A

TRH from H to P
TSH from P to Thyroid
T3 and T4 released

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the feedback loops of the thyroid.

A

T3 and T4 have a short (acting on pit gland inhibiting TSH) and a long (inhibiting TRH at hypothalamus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Causes of 1y thyroid disease?

A

Thyroiditis
Gland destruction
Multinodular goitre
Tumours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Causes of hyperthyroidism from most to least common?

A

Diffuse toxic hyperplasia - 70%

Toxic multinodular goitre - 20%

Toxic adenoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Pathology behind graves?

A

Autoimmune production of anti-TSH receptor antibodies

These stimulate activity, growth and inhibit TSH binding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is Graves opthalmopathy? Why does it happen?

A

Inflammation and other immune system events affect muscles and other tissues around your eyes

This is because ocular fibroblasts have TSH receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why happens to the thyroid in graves?

A

Undergoes diffuse hyperplasia and hyperfunction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Causes of hypothyroidism?

A

Hashimoto’s
Iatrogenic - surgery or drugs
Iodine deficiency
Congenital hypothyroidism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What type of patients does hashimoto’s affect more?

A

45-65 yrs

Females over males

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What type of patients does graves affect more?

A

20-40s
Female over male
Has a genetic predisposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is hashimotos?

A

Autoimmune destruction of thyroid epithelial cells by cytotoxic T cells, cytokines and antibody mediated destruction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What happens to the thyroid gland in hashimotos?

A

Diffuse enlargement with gradual failure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Causes of multinodular goitre?
Iodine deficiency | Goitrogens
26
Pathology of how a multinodular goitre affects the thyroid?
Impairs synthesis of T3 and T4 | Leads to increases of TSH which causes hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the epithelium
27
What is the "thyroid nodule"
``` Can be: The dominant nodule in a multi-nodular goitre A cyst A follicular adenoma A cacrinoma ```
28
Most common type of thyroid carcinoma? And types of this ?
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma - Papillary and follicular carcinomas
29
How to investigate a thyroid nodule?
TFTs Ultrasounds FNAs
30
Features of a follicular adenoma?
Is the most non-functioning neoplasm Is a circumscribed, encapsulated tumour Histology often shows small microfollicles
31
Features of the DTC - papillary carcinoma?
Usually <50yrs Causes by a BRAF mutation or RET/PTC gene rearrangement Associated with exposure to ionizing radiation - spread via lymphatics but has excellent prognosis There is papillary projections with empty nuclei and psammonma bodies May be cyctic
32
Features of the DTC - Follicular carcinoma ?
Rare and usually solitary Malignant cells breach the follicular capsules Mets to blood and bones
33
What mutation causes a follicular carcinoma?
RAS mutation | PAX8/PPARG translocation
34
What is a thyroid medullary carcinoma? Effects?
A malignant tumour of the C-cells Makes calctionin +/- other polypeptides
35
How do thyroid medullary carcinomas arise?
70% are sporadic 30% - Genetic - can be treated with a prophylactic thyroidectomy
36
What do parathyroid glands make?
PTH which regulates plasma calcium
37
How does 1y hyperparathyroidism present?
Assymptomatic hypercalcaemia
38
Causes of hyperparathyroidism?
Sporadic or familial Adenomas (85-95%), Hyperplasia's or carcinomas (rare)
39
What is 2y hyperparathyroidism in response to?
Reduced calcium due to renal failure
40
What does the anterior pit gland secrete?
``` ACTH TSH GH FSH/LH Prolactin ```
41
What does the posterior pit gland release?
Vasopressin/ADH | Oxytocin
42
Describe the histology of the pituitary gland?
3 major cells - acidophils, basophiles and chromophobes Acidophils are pink and secrete GH and Prolactin Basophils are dark purple and secerete ACTH, TSH, FSH and LH Chormophobes are pale/white
43
Most common cause of pituitary hyperfunction? Rarer causes?
A pituitary ademona A carcinoma is very rare, some can be caused by hypothalmic disorders
44
What age does a pituitary adenoma affect the most?
35-60 y/o
45
Causes of the adenoma?
Most are sporadic with 5% being inherited
46
Describe the lesion (in a pituitary adenoma)
Soft and well circumscribed macroscopic lesions
47
Effects of the pituitary adenoma?
If functioning causes hormone excess If large has a mass pressure effect
48
What does excess Prolactin cause?
Galactorrhoea and menstrual disorders
49
What does xs GH cause?
Acromegaly/Gigantism
50
What does xs ACTH cause?
Cushings
51
How are non-functioning adenomas caught?
Via immunohistochemical demonstration (?)
52
Mass pressure effects of a adenoma in the pit gland is....
Radiographic abnormalities Visual problems - bitemporal hemianopia Elevated intracranial pressure Compression damage leading to hypopituitarism
53
How much function of the pituitary must be lost to cause pituitary hypofunction?
75%
54
Causes of pituitary hypofunction?
Compression by tumours Trauma Infection by TB or sarcoid, which is rare
55
What does the cortex in the adrenal glands secrete?
Steroid hormones - cortisol, aldosterone and sex steroids
56
What does the medulla in the adrenal glands secrete?
Adrenaline/NA
57
What is the effect of adrenal pathology (hypo/hyper function and mass lesions) of the adrenal gland?
Hyperplasia - diffuse or nodular Atrophy Mass lesion's
58
3 syndromes of adrenal hyperfunction?
Hypercortisolism - cushings Hyperaldosteronism - conns Adrenogenital syndromes
59
What is the difference between cushing's syndrome and disease?
Syndrome is ACTH independent and only affects the adrenal gland (1y) Disease involves ACTH and is when there is a pituitary adenoma or ectopic ACTH lesions making excess ACTH
60
Cause of exogenous cushings?
Iatrogenic steroids
61
What causes an ACTH independent cushings?
A functioning adrenal adenoma
62
Causes of 1y Conn's syndrome?
Bilateral idiopathic hyperplasia | Functioning adrenal
63
Causes of 2y conns?
Reduced renal perfusion causing increased RAAS
64
What causes an adrenogenital syndrome?
Functioning adrenal tumour Pit gland tumour - cushings disease Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - steroid enzyme deficiency
65
Acute causes of adrenal gland destruction = insufficiency.
Meningococcal septicaemia
66
Chronic causes of 1y and 2y adrenal insufficiency.
1y - Addison's disease Autoimmune Infection Atrophy Congenital hypoplasia Replacements - metastatic carcinoma amyloidosis 2- Pit gland failure
67
What type of tumours affect the adrenal gland?
Adenoma Carcinoma Medullary
68
What does adenomas cause on adrenal gland?
Functioning = hyperadrenal syndromes and atrophy of cortex Non- functioning = often found incidentally suggesting no effect?
69
Appearance of an adrenal adenoma?
Yellow-brown circumscribed
70
What does adenomas cause on adrenal gland?
Most likely functioning - causing "virilising" the abnormal development of male sexual characteristics in a female
71
Appearance of adrenal carcinomas?
Large - over 20cm, haemorrhage and necrosing and cystic
72
How does adrenal carcinoma metastasis and to where?
Via lymphatics and blood - invades the adrenal vein Lung and breast
73
What does an adrenal medullary tumour cause?
Phaeochroocytoma - xc secretions of catecholamines (adrenaline etc) leading to hypertension
74
What is multiple endocrine neoplasia?
Inherited disorders due to mutations causing hyperplasia/ neoplasms Aftects younger patients
75
Distinct syndromes of multiple endocrine neoplasia?
MEN 1 - Wermer's | MEN 2 - Split into 2A and 2B
76
What causes MEN1 and waht is its effects
MEN 1 tumour suppressor gene mutated Leads to parathyroid hyperplasia and adenomas Pit. gland adenoma Pancreatic and duodenal endocrine tumours
77
What does MEN 2 cause?
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid Phaeochromocytoma

ZA - Endocrine System (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions