Ch 12 - Endocrine Pathology Terms

Question 1

acromegaly

Answer 1

type of hyperpituitarism in which an overactive pituitary gland after adulthood causes abnormal continued growth of bones and tissues of the face and extremities

Question 2

Addison’s disease

Answer 2

illness characterized by gradual adrenal-gland failure, resulting in insufficient production of steroid hormones and the need for hormone replacement therapy; also called hypoadrenalism and adrenocortical insufficiency

Question 3

congenital hypothyroidism

Answer 3

congenital condition of thyroid hormone deficiency, characterized by arrested physical and mental development; formerly called cretinism

Question 4

Cushing’s disease

Answer 4

disorder caused by hypersecretion of cortisol by the adrenal gland, resulting in altered fat distribution and muscle weakness; also called hyperadrenocorticism, hypercortisolism and hyperadrenalism

Question 5

diabetes insipidus

Answer 5

disorder unrelated to diabetes mellitus, characterized by excessive output of dilute urine

Question 6

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Answer 6

condition of severe hyperglycemia

Question 7

diabetes mellitus (DM)

Answer 7

chronic metabolic disorder in which the pancreas secretes insufficient amounts of insulin or the body is insulin resistant

Question 8

dwarfism

Answer 8

hyposecretion of growth hormone during childhood, resulting in an abnormally small adult

Question 9

exophthalmos

Answer 9

abnormal protrusion of the eyeballs

Question 10

gestational diabetes

Answer 10

diabetes that begins during pregnancy due to insulin resistance and altered glucose metabolism

Question 11

giantism

Answer 11

type of hyperpituitarism that causes hypersecretion of growth hormone during childhood, resulting in an abnormally large adult

Question 12

goiter

Answer 12

enlarged thyroid gland

Question 13

Graves’ disease

Answer 13

hyperthyroidism caused by an autoimmune response, which may cause exophthalmos; also called thyrotoxicosis

Question 14

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Answer 14

chronic, inflammatory condition that leads to the most common type of thyroiditis; also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis

Question 15

hirsutism

Answer 15

male pattern of body-hair development in females

Question 16

hyperaldosteronism

Answer 16

condition in which the adrenal glands release excessive aldosterone; also called Conn’s syndrome

Question 17

hyperparathyroidism

Answer 17

condition in which the parathyroid glands produce an excessive amount of parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Question 18

hypoparathyroidism

Answer 18

condition in which the parathyroid glands are hypoactive and as a result the level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is too low

Question 19

myxedema

Answer 19

severe form of hypothyroidism that develops in the older child or adult, causing nonpitting edema in connective tissue

Question 20

nondiabetic hypoglycemia

Answer 20

condition in which a nondiabetic person experiences mild symptoms associated with low blood glucose

Question 21

panhypopituitarism

Answer 21

condition resulting from diminished secretion of pituitary hormones; also called underactive pituitary gland

Question 22

pheochromocytoma

Answer 22

tumor of the adrenal medulla (central part of the adrenal gland), usually benign but sometimes causing fluctuation of stress hormones like adrenaline

Question 23

pituitary dwarfism

Answer 23

type of hypopituitarism in which reduced growth and development occur due to deficiency of growth hormone in childhood

Question 24

polydipsia

Answer 24

much (increased) thirst

Question 25

polyphagia

Answer 25

much (increased) appetite

Question 26

polyuria

Answer 26

much (increased) urination

Question 27

precocious puberty

Answer 27

premature onset of puberty with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics in young children

Question 28

retinopathy

Answer 28

disease of the retina, often caused by diabetes

Question 29

thyrotoxicosis

Answer 29

severe episode of worsening symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Question 30

Common tests for diabetes/blood glucose

Answer 30

1. Average blood glucose (eAG): average level over past 2-3 months; directly correlates to HbA1c results
2. Fasting blood glucose (FBG): levels after a fast of 8-12 hours; also called fasting blood sugar (FBS)
3. Finger stick blood sugar (FSBS): from drop of capillary blood by pricking finger; also called finger stick blood glucose (FSBG)
4. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): average level over 2-3 months by measuring amt of hemoglobin with sugar attached to it; reported as a %

Question 31

Common thyroid tests

Answer 31

1. Radioactive iodine uptake: nuclear medicine study measuring how rapidly radioactive iodine is taken up from blood after oral/intravenous administration
2. Thyroid function test: measurement of levels of TSH, T3 and T4
3. Thyroid scan: radiographic evaluation of thyroid after radioactive substance is injected; identifies thyroid size, shape, position and function
4. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): measure of ability of thyroid to concentrate and retain circulating iodine for synthesis of thyroid hormone

Question 32

Non-insulin-depedent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)

Answer 32

Most common form of diabetes; also called “Type 2 diabetes” or “adult-onset diabetes”; caused when pancreas still produces insulin, but there is a deficiency or resistance to the insulin produced