Endocrine Pathology Flashcards
Endocrine System
(4)
- Maintain metabolic equilibrium (homeostasis)
- Secrete chemical messengers (hormones)
- Regulate activity of various organs
- Process of feedback inhibition
Process of feedback inhibition
- Increased activity of target tissue, typically down-
regulates activity of gland secreting stimulating
hormone
Endocrine diseases
a. diseases of
b. diseases associated with
under/over-production of hormones
development of mass
lesions
Tumors of endocrine glands, whether benign or
malignant, may secrete the hormone native to the gland. Such
tumors are said to be “—” tumors. It may be the mass effect
of the tumor or the metabolic effect of the excessive hormone that
calls attention to the tumor.
functional
Endocrinopathies
organs (6)
- Anterior Pituitary
- Posterior Pituitary
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Pancreas
- Adrenal
Pituitary gland
* Base of brain-
sella turcica
Pituitary gland
Connected to
hypothalamus
a. stalk composed of axons
b. venous plexus
Pituitary gland
Central role in regulation of
other endocrine
glands
Pituitary gland
Two components
a. anterior lobe (adenohypophysis)
b. posterior lobe (neurohypophysis)
Pituitary gland
Diseases divided according to — mainly
affected
lobe
Pituitary: Adenohypophysis
(5)
Somatotrophs
Lactotrophs
Corticotrophs
Thyrotrophs
Gonadotrophs
- Somatotrophs
- Produces growth hormone
- Lactotrophs
- Produces prolactin
- Corticotrophs
- Produces adrenocorticotrophic hormone
- Thyrotrophs
- Produces thyroid simulating hormone
- Gonadotrophs
- Produces follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing
hormone
Pituitary: Neurohypophysis
(2)
- Antidiuretic hormone
- (ADH, Vasopressin)
- Oxytocin
Diseases of anterior pituitary
(2)
a. Decreased/increased secretion of trophic
hormones
b. Hypopituitarism/hyperpituitarism
Hypopituitarism
a. Destructive lesions/processes –ischemia,
radiation, inflammation, neoplasms
Hyperpituitarism
(2)
a. Functional adenoma within anterior lobe
b. Local mass effects –enlargement of sella turcica,
visual field abnormalities, increased intracranial
pressure
Hypopituitarism
(4)
- Pituitary Adenomas
- Radiation Treatment
- Neurosurgery
- Sheehan Syndrome
Sheehan Syndrome
- Ischemic necrosis of pituitary gland
Clinical Manifestation:
Hypopituitarism
(6)
- Pituitary Dwarfism
- Amenorrhea & Infertility
- decreased Libido & Impotence
- Postpartum lactation failure
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypoadrenalism
Hyperpituitarism
(4)
- Pituitary Adenomas
- Pituitary Hyperplasia
- Pituitary Carcinomas
- Hypothalamic disorders
Clinical Manifestation:
Hyperpituitarism
(3)
- Gigantism
- Acromegaly
- Cushing disease
Hyperpituitarism (Gigantism)
(3)
- Primary tumor
- Excess growth hormone (GH)
- Affects all “growing tissues”
- Excess growth hormone (GH)
(2)
- Adenoma of anterior
pituitary - 2nd most common
- Affects all “growing tissues”
- Gigantism-
before growth
plate closure
Gigantism
*Generalized
overgrowth
* — standard deviations
3
Gigantism
symptoms (6)
*Headaches
*Chronic fatigue
*Arthritis,
osteoporosis
* Muscle weakness
*Hypertension
*Congestive heart
Acromegaly
(6)
- Late diagnosis
- Poor vision; photophobia
- Enlarged skull, hands, feet, ribs
- Soft tissue, viscera
- Enlarged maxilla, mandible, nasal and frontal
bones, maxillary sinus - Intraoral:
Acromegaly
intraoral:
(5)
- Diastemas
- Malocclusion
- Macroglossia
- Enlarged lips
- Sleep apnea
Posterior Pituitary
(2)
- Diabetes Insipidus (Central)
- Secretions of Inappropriately High
Levels of ADH (SIADH)
Diabetes Insipidus (Central)
(2)
- Polyuria
- Dilute urine
- Polydipsia
Secretions of Inappropriately High
Levels of ADH (SIADH)
(4)
- Hyponatremia
- Cerebral edema
- Neurologic dysfuction
- increase Total Body Water
- Blood volume normal
- No peripheral edema
iodine from a normal diet is stored in the
thyroid gland (bound to thyroglobulin) and used for T3 and T4 production
T3 and T4 difference
addition of iodide
T3 and T4 production
T3: T4 conversion
T4: produced by the thyroid
activator for the synthesis of TSH
TRH
activator for T3/4 production
TSH
3 glands responsible for the thyroid function
hypothalamus
pituitary
thyroid
a very small percentage of T3 and T4 is not bound to thyroxine binding proteins and remains
free in circulation
Hypothyroidism
* Primary
(4)
- Intrinsic abnormality
in the thyroid - Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Autoimmune
Hypothyroidism
* Secondary
(1)
- Pituitary failure
Myxedema
(7)
- Adult
- Generalized fatigue
- Apathy
- Mental sluggishness
- Listless
- Cold intolerance
- Overweight
Cretinism
(6)
- Childhood
- Impaired skeletal
development - Severe mental
retardation - Short stature
- Course facial features
- Delayed tooth
eruption
symptoms of hypothyroidism
(5)
cold intolerance
fatigue, lethargy
weight gain
constipation
bradycardia
Hypothyroidism
* Diagnosis
(2)
* Treatment
(1)
- TSH
- Increased (Primary)
-Decreased (Secondary) - T4 low
- Supplement
Hashimoto Thyroiditis
(4)
- Autoimmune
- Painless
enlargement - Symmetric &
diffuse - Risk of B-cell non-
Hodgkins
Lymphomas
ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS
OF HYPERTHYROIDISM
Clinical signs and symptoms
(7)
Goiter (small)
Exophtalmus (frequent)
Heat intolerance
Weight loss
Malabsorption and diarrhea
Tachycardia
Irritability and anxiety
ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS
OF HYPERTHYROIDISM
Most common causes
(2)
Autoimmune - Graves’ disease and
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS
OF HYPERTHYROIDISM
Laboratory
(3)
T4 and Free T4 elevated
T3 and Free T3 elevated
TSH and TRH suppressed
symptoms of hyperthyroidism
(5)
weight loss
nervousness
rapid pulse
goiter
muscle wasting
hyperthyroidism
despite low TSH levels, the thyroid continues to produce elevated t3/4 levels. this is possible bc of the autoantibodies which stimulate the thyroid hormone production. this hyperfunction is permanent
Hyperthyroidism
Graves Disease
(5)
- Tachycardia
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Exophthalmos
- Intolerance to heat
Hyperthyroidism
Graves Disease
* Diagnosis
(2)
- TSH
- Primary-low
- Secondary- normal to high
- T4 (T3) increased
Hyperthyroidism
Graves Disease
Treatment
- Ablation
Hyperthyroidism
Graves Disease
* Significance
(5)
- Thyroid storm
- Caused by infection, stress,
trauma - Elevated body temp.
- Tachycardia
- 20-40% mortality
Diffuse & Multinodular Goiter
(4)
- Thyroid enlargement
- Impaired synthesis of thyroid
hormone - Maintenance of minimal function
(euthyroid) - Diffuse early on, then nodular
- Impaired synthesis of thyroid
hormone
(2)
- Iodine deficiency
- Endemic
- Hyperplasia of follicles
- Pituitary stimulation
Sequence Of Events In Endemic Goiter
(4)
- Diet deficient in iodine
- Decreased output of T3 & T4 by thyroid
- Pituitary responds by secreting TSH
- Thyroid hyperplasia
Thyroid Neoplasms
* Adenoma
(4)
- Solitary
- Males
- Younger
- Warm/Cold nodules
Thyroid Neoplasms
* Papillary Carcinoma
(5)
- 75-85%
- All ages
- Radiation
- 10 yr = 95%
- Worse in elderly
Thyroid Neoplasms
* Follicular Carcinoma
(4)
- 10-20%
- Older
- Iodine deficiency
- Cold nodules
Thyroid Neoplasms
* Medullary Carcinoma
(5)
- 5%
- Neuroendocrine
- Calcitonin (C cells)
- Amyloid
- MEN 2 A/B (20%)
PARATHYROID GLANDS
(4)
Derived from developing pharyngeal pouches
Lie in close proximity to upper and lower poles of each thyroid
lobe
May be found on path of descent of pharyngeal pouches –
carotid sheath, thymus, anterior mediastinum
Secrete Parathormone (PTH) which, with calcitonin regulates
calcium homeostasis –controlled by the level of free (ionized)
calcium
PTH:
(5)
Activates osteoclasts activity
Increases Ca renal tubular resorption
Increases conversion of Vit. D into the active
dihydroxy form in the kidneys
Increases urinary excretion of phosphates
Increases Ca absorption by the GI tract.
Hypoparathyroidism
(3)
*Surgically induced
- Iatrogenic
*Congenital absence
- DiGeorge Syndrome
*Autoimmune
- APECED
Hypoparathyroidism
(3)
Hypocalcemia
Chvostek Sign
Trosseau sign
*Hypocalcemia
*Tetany
*Chvostek Sign
*Tapping CN VII
- Muscle contraction
- Eye, mouth, nose
*Trosseau sign
*Occluding circulation of forearm
- Carpal spasm
Hyperparathyroid Pathology
* Primary
(3)
- Adenoma (75-80%)
- One gland
- Hyperplasia (10-15%)
- Multiglandular
- MEN 1 & 2a,b
- Carcinoma (<5%)
Hyperparathyroid Pathology
* Secondary
- Renal failure
- Hyperphosphatemia
- Chronic hypocalcemia
- Vitamin D deficient
PRIMARY
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM
(4)
Adenoma
Hyperplasia
Carcinoma
Serum calcium levels, especially Ionized calcium levels are high
PRIMARY
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM
Morphologic changes
(5)
Skeletal changes - bone resorption
- Formation of bone cysts and hemorrhages
(osteitis fibroso –cystica) - Brown tumors
-Urinary tract stones (nephrolithiasis)
- Metastatic calcification
Primary Hyperparathyroidism
(3)
*Hypercalcemia
* Hypophosphatemia
* Increased urinary excretion of both calcium and
phosphate
SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM
(2)
Calcium is chronically depressed and low serum calcium
levels lead to compensatory hyperactivity of the
parathyroids
Serum phosphate levels are elevated