endocrine Flashcards
what is the embryological origin of the thyroid?
originates from the foramen cecum
when the descending tract doesnt close you can get thyroglossal duct cyst/mass
how can you assess the thyroid on physical exam
have them swallow (it should move) and stick out their tongue (it should also move)
how do you assess thyroid with imaging
U/S
if a person has a thyroid module and that is his only functioning thyroid tissue on U/S, do you still consider resection?
yes
what is the operation to remove the thyroid
sistrunk operation with removal of center of the hyoid
what % of the population has a palpable thyroid nodule
5-8% of women
1-2% men
increases with age
how do you assess thyroid nodule risk (for malignancy) via history
age (rates of cancer similar between ages but have better prognosis when younger)
sex
family history
growth symptoms of mass (rapidly growing masses are cancer until proven otherwise)
how do you assess thyroid nodule risk (for malignancy) via physical exam
- complete physical
- mass that grows fast is likely cancer but if it grows fast and is painful then resolves somewhat…unlikely to be cancer
- characterize the mass–> does it move when swallowing?
- lymphadenopathy
- voice
what is the best test for thyroid nodule risk assessment?
FNA
how do you assess thyroid nodule risk (for malignancy) via FNA
well differentiated thyroid cancer is based on age (staging differs on whether you are under or over 45)
dont investigate nodules that are less than 1 cm unless there is extension or associated LAD
atypia in a sample will likely be removed
what is the bethesda classification for thyroid cancer FNA?
- non diagnostic
- benign
- follicular lesion of unknown significance
- follicular neoplasm
- suspicious for malignancy
- malignant
what characteristics of a single thyroid nodule would suggest thyroid cancer
single nodule
calcifications
hypoechoic
taller than wide
heterogenous
hypervascular
take these ones out
indications for surgery for a multinodular goiter
- suspicion of malignancy/inability to rule out malignancy
- compressive symptoms (SOB, dysphagia, etc)
- hyperthyroidism
- cosmesis
- retrosternal goiters (hard to follow clinically and investigate, also hard to biopsy and it can only grow backwards into vital structures)
how does hyperthyroidism usually present
multinodular goiter, graves, solitary nodule
treatment for hyperthyroidism
anti thyroid medications
radioactive iodine
surgical management (not easy surgery)
what are the types of thyroid cancer
(most to least common)
- papillary
- follicular–> you need to see vascular or capsular invasion, which you can’t see on FNA, in order to determine if malignant or not–> usually do partial lobectomy to check
- medullary
- anaplastic (high mortality)
- lymphoma
- metastatic (often from breast)