CP53 - Endocrine Pathology Flashcards
How does endocrine gland work?
secrete hormones directly into the blood stream and act systematically
How does paracrine system work?
secrete hormones which act locally
how does autocrine system work?
affect the cell which secrete the protein
what id the pituitary gland located?
situated in the sella turcica beneath the hypothalamus
what are the 2 parts of the pituitary glands?
anterior (75%) & posterior (25%)
what are some of the causes of adenohypophysis hypofunction?
most common tumours - non-secretory adenoma (more common), metastatic carcinoma, but also trauma, infraction, inflammation etc (anything which causes compression on the sella turcica
what is the name of the anterior part of the pituitary gland?
adenohypophysis
what is the name of the posterior part of the pituitary gland?
neurohypophysis
are primary pituitary tumors mostly benign or malignant?
most are adenomas and hence benign
where within the pituitary glands can primary cancer arise?
from any hormone producing cells within the pituitary gland
what are the clinical effect of the tumors if they are functional?
secondary to hormones being produced eg acromegaly
what is the local effect of pituitary tumors
pressure on optic chiasma/ adjacent pituitary cells
what are the different types of adenohypophysial adenoma?
- prolactinoma - commonest, galactorrhea (milky nipple dischange unrelated to normal breast milk) & menstrual disturbance
- growth hormone secreting - gigantism (unusually largeness) in children and acromegaly in adults
- ACTH secreting - Cushing’s syndrome
thyroid anatomy?
bilobed organ joined by isthmus encased in thin fibrous capsule located at the level of 5th, 6th and 7th verterbra in the anterior neck in close proximity to the trachea
what is ectopia?
tissue present in a place where it does not belong
what is heterotopia
tissue present in a place where it does not belong due to displacement
what is the function of thyroid glands
produce iodinated amino acid thyroxine (T4) & iodothyronine (T3)
where is the most common ectopia of thyroid?
lingual thyroid - usually at the base of tongue
what is thyroglossal duct cyst
it is persistent track representing the embryological migratory path of thyroid anlage in the anterior neck
what is acute thyroiditis?
acute inflammatory of the thyroid parenchyma associated with local/systemic viral, bacterial or fungal infection, most cases due to generalised sepsis
what is palpation thyroiditis
microscopic granulomatous foci centered on thyroid follicles - secondary to rupture of thyroid follicles due to palation or suregery
what is reidel thyroiditis
rare fibrosing form of chronic thyroiditis, present with firm goitre
what is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
it is chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis - an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder associated with diffuse enlargement and thyroid autoantibodies.
what is the presentation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
diffusely enlarged non-tendered gland, serum thyroid antibodies elevated
what is the charactersitic of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis histologically?
infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells.
what happen to the functioning level of the thyroid of the patients with Hasimoto’s thyroiditis
hypothyroidism
what conditions are patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis more at risk of?
thyroid lymphoma, papillary carcinoma of thyroid
what is Graves’ thyroiditis
it is diffuse hyperplasia - an autoimmune process results in clinical hypothyroidism and diffuse hyperplasia of the follicular epithelium.