175. Thyroid pathophysiology Flashcards
Neuroendocrine tumor of the parafollicular C cells
Produce calcitonin and CEA
~2% of all thyroid carcinomas
~75% sporadic, ~25% hereditary in the context of MEN2
MTC
Occurrence of hyperthyroidism and/or hypothyroidism during the postpartum period in women who were euthyroid during pregnancy
- gland is partially destroyed
At highest risk:
- pts w/ Type 1 DM
- previous history of other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s or Graves’
Goes from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism to euthyroid if the pt is able to remit
Postpartum Thyroiditis (PPT)
Causes a decrease in TT4 and TT3
Can be caused by:
- androgens
- gluococorticoids
- l-asparaginase
- cirrhosis
- nephrotic syndrome
- acromegaly
TBG decrease
Signs: can wax and wane, can be one or the other or both
- chemosis - conjunctival irritation
- lid edema
- proptosis (exopthalmos)
- double vision
- keratitis - when lids aren’t fully closing
- optic nerve involvement (extreme cases)
Graves’ Ophthalmopathy
Combination of transglobulin-measurement with imaging
- US of neck
- Whole body scan with radioiodine
- PET-scan
- CT
- MRI
Long-term management of thyroid cancer
Should expect what kind of levels of TSH during pregnancy
Low levels
Etiology:
- Graves’
- Hyperfunctioning nodules
- Early pregnancy
- Post partum thyroiditis
- Congenital
Hyperthyroidism
Bilateral, multifocal MTC lesions points more towards
Familial MTC/MEN2
Autoimmune disease with stimulatory antibodies against the TSH receptor
Associated w/ eye disease
Treated with methimazole and propranolol
Graves’ Disease
Unilateral MTC lesion points more towards..
Sporadic MTC
Mutation in RET proto-oncogene associated w/:
- MTC
- Pheochromocytoma
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hirschsprung’s
MEN2A
Metastasis of __ is primarily through the bloodstream and typical locations include the lungs and bone.
FTC (follicular thyroid cancer)
This protein increases during pregnancy, thus causing lower amounts of T3/T4 activity
Hypothyroidism pts will need to increase levothyroxine dose
TBG
The __ is one of the most sensitive organs to the neoplastic effects of radiation
Thyroid
Elevated TSH
Normal FT4, T4
Patients often have few specific clinical symptoms or signs
Sympatoms are ordinary and nonspecific
Specific age and sex-related presentations
Subclinical hypothyroidism (Mild Thyroid Failure)
Signs:
- Goiter
- Weight loss
- Tachycardia
- Diastolic HTN
- Arrythmias - A-Fib
- Hyperreflexia
- Eye signs like exopthalmos
- Irregular menses and infertility in women
Hyperthyroidism
Signs:
- goiter
- weight gain
- bradycardia
- diastolic hypertension
- swollen face
- hyporeflexia
- global edema
- irregular menses and infertility in women
Hypothyroidism
Metastasis of __ is primarily lymphatic and can involve the locoregional lymph nodes and lungs
PTC (papillary thyroid cancer)
Before removing the thyroids d/t MTC, one must always check for
Pheochromocytoma
Staging of thyroid cancers is based mostly on what?
Age
Treatment for Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Steroid infusions
Orbital decompression
Rituximab - IL-6 inhibitor
- used if steroid resistant
Well-differentiated types of thyroid cancer
Papillary
Follicular
Hurthle