Disease of the pituitary glands Flashcards
What is benign pituitary adenoma
Adenoma - a benign tumour from glandular structures in the epithelium
Symptoms of benign pituitary adenoma
- Hormone hyper secretion
- Visual problems
- Hypopituitarism
- Erectile dysfunction
- Headache
What is craniopharyngioma
Tumour of the pituitary gland embryonic tissue
Symptom of craniopharyngioma
Bitemporal hemaniopsia (missing outer parts of vision)
Hydrocephalus
CSF leak
What is Sheehans
Pituitary infarctions after labour
What is hypopituitarism
Reduced secretion by the pituitary glands
Symptoms of hypopituitarism in males
- Pale, no body hair and central obesity
Symptoms of hypopituitarism in females
Loose body hair
Sallow complexion
What is a sallow complexion
losing natural complexion
What is prolactinoma
Increased Prolactin
Symptoms of prolactinoma
Increased milk production in breast
Galactorrhea
Reduced fertility
Amenorrhoea
Define amenorrhoea
Menstruation stops
Define galactorrhea
Seeping out of milk
How is Prolactinoma treated
Using a dopamine agonist which inhibits prolactin release (CABERGOLINE)
What is Acromegaly
Increased GH
Symptoms of acromegaly
Thick, greasy and sweaty skin
Enlarged Organs
Why is acromegaly dangerous
Increased heart size can result in heart disease
What is Cushing’s syndrome
Increased CTH production
TOO MUCH CORTISOL
Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome
Central Obesity
Brushing, think skin, osteoporosis, ulcers and stretch marks (purple)
Definition of Diabetes Mellitus
- Syndrome of chronic hyperglycaemia due to relative insulin deficiency, resistance or both
What can hyperglycaemia result in
Serious microvascular or microvascular problems
What is the normal blood glucose levels
Between 3.5-8.0mmol/L under all conditions
What characterises Cushing’s disease
- INCREASED ACTH
OR
- INCREASED CH
What causes Cushing’s disease
- PITUITARY ADENOMA (pituitary basophilism)
Clinical presentation of Cushing’s Disease
- Weight Gain
- High BP
- Poor short term memory
- Irritability
- Excess hair growth
- Impaired immunity
- Red-ruddy face
- Extra fat around neck
- Moon Face
- Red stretch marks
- Poor concentration
- Irregular menstruation
CAUSES DIABETES MELLIITUS
The triad of characteristics seen in male patients with Cushing’s disease
- Purple striae
- Muscle atrophy
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney Stones
How is Cushing’s disease
- ACTH blood test (if positive the CT)
- dexamethasone suppression test
- synACTHen test
- CT or MRI of the pituitary for tumour
- Inferior petrosal sinus sampling to differentiate between ectopic and adrenal Cushing’s syndrome
- Urinary free cortisol test (measures excess cortisol excreted by the kidneys)
How is Cushing’s disease treated
- Trans-sphenoidal surgery
- Pituitary radiation therapy
- Bilateral adrenalectomy
What is Cushing’s syndrome
- INCREASED CRH
2. INCREASED ACTH
Where is CRH produced
Hypothalamus (paraventricular neurone)
What causes pseudo-coshing’s syndrome
- Oestrogen + progesterone tablets
What is Graves’ disease
- Autoimmune disease that enlarges the thyroid
- HYPERTHYROIDISM
Causes EYE DISEASE
What causes the orange peel skin in Graves’
- Infiltration of autoantibodies under the skin = inflammation and fibrous plaques
Wha autoantibodies are found in Graves’ disease
- Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (long-term stimulation of TSH)
- Thyroid growth immunoglobulins (Bind to TSH receptor causing overgrowth of thyroid follicles)
- Thyrotrophin binding-inhibiting immunoglobulins (inhibits union of TSH and its receptor)
Complications of graves’ disease
OSTEOPOROSIS due to increased excretion of calcium and phosphorous in urine and stool
Clinical Presentation of Graves’ disease
- Tachycardia
- Diffuse palpable loiter with audible bruit
- Exophthalmos (pushed out eyes)
- Fatigue
- Weight loss with increased appetite
- Heat intolerance
- Tremulousness
- Palpitations
DIAGNOSTIC OF GRAVES’ DISEASE:
- Exophthalmos
- Pretibial myxoedema
What is pretibial myxoedema
Waxy, red discolouration of the skin (orange peel skin)
What is Goiter
- Is an enlarged thyroid gland
Diagnostics of graves’ disease
- CT or ULTRASOUND to see loiter
- FBC (Overproduction of thyroid hormones T3 + T4 - TSH is undetectable + thyroid levels normal, elevated iodine)
Autoantibodies - Biopsy
Differential diagnosis of Graves’
- Thyroid adenoma
2. Toxic multi nodular goitre
How is Graves’ managed
- Antithyroid drugs (Carbimazole)
- Radioiodine
- Thyroidectomy
- PROPRANOLOL for tachycardia and nausea
- Difficulty closing eyes treated with lubricant gel and orbital decompression for bulging eyes
What is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is destroyed