Canine Hyperthyroidism Flashcards
What are the two cell types that can give rise to thyroid cancer in the dog?
- follicular (70%), stains (+) for thyroglobulin
- parafollicular/ c-cell/ medullary, stains (+) for calcitonin
Which molecular pathway has been implicated in the development of thyroid carcinoma in the dog?
PI3K/ Ark pathway
- VEGF = important target for TSH activation of angiogenesis in thyroid cancer cell lines
What are some common locations for ectopic thyroid carcinoma?
sublingual, mediastinum, heart- base
What are some common clinical signs of canine hyperthyroidism?
vomiting, diarrhea, hypertension, weight loss, hyperactivity, panting, PU/PD
What’s the most sensitive / specific imaging modalities for canine hyperthyroidism?
CT = most specific
MRI = most sensitive.
99mTcO4: good for ectopic/ metastatic (plain rads or CT is still better for metastasis)
What are some treatment options and prognosis for canine hyperthyroidism?
- Surgery, up to 38m if favorable factors present
- RT, definitive intent, mean progression free interval = 45m; palliative RT
- Chemo: platinum based
- 131I, MST 12-34m
- medical / methimazole
What are some considerations for dogs with hyperthyroidism that undergo surgery?
- may need to pretreat with atenolol to prevent arrhythmia/ thyroid storm
- anti-hypertensives: ACEi and/or amlodipine
What’s thyroid storm?
