Endocrine - Thyroid Flashcards
What are the clinical features of hyperthyroidism?
- Temperature intolerance
- Appetite changes
- Weight changes
- Bowel habit changes
- Changes in sympathetic discharge
- Changes in skin and nails
- Changes in mood
- Eye problems
- Other systemic signs
Heat intolerance
Polyphagia (↑Appetite)
Weight loss
Diarrhoea, increased bowel movements
Increased sweating, Palpitations
Dry, scaly skin, Onycholysis (Graves’)
Changes in mood
- Nervousness, Insomnia
- Irritability
- Hyperactivity
Eye problems
- Double vision
- Redness
- Pain
Other systemic signs
- Muscle weakness: cannot climb stairs, comb hair
- Exertional dyspnoea: CCF
- Insomnia
- Pretibial Myxoedema (only in grave’s)
- Amenorrhea
What are the clinical features of hyporthyroidism?
- Temperature intolerance
- Appetite changes
- Weight changes
- Bowel habit changes
- Changes in sympathetic discharge
- Changes in skin and nails
- Changes in mood
- Eye problems
- Other systemic signs
Cold intolerance
Decreased appetite
Weight gain
Constipation
Lethargy
Coarse, pale, dry
Xanthoma (hyperlipidemia)
Changes in mood
- Mental, physical sluggishness
- Depression
- Poor memory
Eye problems
- Odema of eyelids
- Xanthalesma (hyperlipidemia)
Other systemic signs
- Hoarse voice
- Hypercarotenamia
- Leg swelling (myxoedema)
- Menorrhagia
What are causes of goitre + hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s, Benign Thyroid neoplasms
What are causes of goitre + hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Iodine Deficiency (thyroid compensates by enlarging to increased iodine uptake), De Quervain’s Thyroiditis (subacute thyroiditis)
What are the thyroid eye signs?
Bulging eyes (exopthalmos) 🡪also causing Pain, Inability to close eyelids
Upper eyelid retraction: you can see the upper limbus which is ABNORMAL
Lid lag on downward gaze: due to retraction
Conjunctivitis
Ophthalmoplegia: Affects in order Inferior R 🡪 Medial R 🡪 Superior R 🡪 Lateral R
Diplopia – due to swollen extraocular muscles, ask esp when looking down
Vision Changes – due to compression on optic nerve
What are the complications of hyperthyroidism?
Compression (usually if malignant): Stridor / Dyspnoea, dysphagia, syncope
Invasive (for thyroid cancer)
Signs of heart failure & A Fib: due to hyperthyroid
Recent fragility fractures from osteoporosis due to Hyperthyroidism
What are the causes of hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s disease
Toxic multinodular goiter/ toxic adenoma
Thyrotoxic phase of Hashimoto’s or postpartum thyroiditis
Thyrotoxic phase of Subacute (de Quervain) granulomatous thyroiditis – preceding URTI
Subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis
Exogenous
Pregnancy (hCG)
Testicular germ cell tumour (hCG)
Hydatidiform mole/ choriocarcinoma (hCG)
What are the causes of hypohyroidism?
Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Hashimoto’s
- Postpartum
- Riedel (IgG4 secreting plasma cells)
- Atrophic (no goiter)
Drugs
- Carbamazepine
- Lithium: “any mood drugs?”
- Amiodarone
- Phenytoin
Iodine deficiency e.g. in pregnancy
Dyshormonogenesis
Subacute (de Quervain) thyroiditis
What are the differentials for a solitary nodule of a thyroid mass?
- Dominant nodule of MNG
- Follicular adenoma
- cyst
- carcinoma
What are the differentials for a thyroid mass that is diffusely enlarged?
Hyperthyroid: Graves
Non toxic (hypothyroid/ euthyroid): lymphoma, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis
What are the differentials for a multinodular goitre?
Hyperthyroid: toxic MNG
Hypothyroid: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
How do you approach a thyroid nodule?
1) Examine Thyroid Status 🡪 Thyroid function test to assess fT4, TSH
- To assess if nodule is a/w HyperT, HypoT, EuT (not necessarily causing it)
- Majority of pt with thyroid nodules are euthyroid!
2) Examine the Nodule 🡪 Thyroid USS; more likely Malignant if:
- Tall & Thin on transverse scan
- Increased internal vascularity (via doppler US)
- Irregular Edges
If diffusely enlarged 🡪 confirm w/ USS 🡪 proceed w/ Auto-Ab testing
If nodule 🡪 proceed with step
3) Iodine Uptake Scan 🡪 to assess if Hot or Cold Nodule!
- Hot Nodule aka a TOXIC nodule causing massive fT4 release (and hence low TSH). Does NOT require Biopsy, toxic thyroid nodules tend to be indolent and less aggressive
- Cold Nodule: Nodule is inactive and does not produce T4. Require biopsy to determine if nodule is Thyroid / secondary tumor! If pt with cold nodule is hyperT 🡪 may indicate a separate aetiology
4) Biopsy via FNAC: Bethesda Classification
What is the treatment of hot thyroid nodule?
Treat with uni/bilateral Thyroidectomy OR Radioactive Iodine treatment
Radioactive Iodine treatment may leave pt Hypothyroid for the rest of his life, requiring Thyroxine supplementation
What are the investigations performed for hyperthyroidism/ hypothyroidisim?
Thyroid panel
- Thyroid stimulating hormone
- Free Thyroxine (T4)
Antibodies
- Graves’: TRAb (TSH Receptor Ab) / TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins)
- Hashimoto’s: TPO Ab (Thyroid Peroxidase Ab) / TG Ab (Thyroglobulin Ab)
US thyroid – to assess nodularity / diffuse swelling. Not required to Dx grave’s if there is PE findings & +ve Ab
Radioiodine uptake scan – more so for nodules to assess if hot / cold
FNAC
What is the treatment of hyperthyroidism?
Symptom control
- Beta-blockers i.e. atenolol 25-50mg/day
- Alternative to BB: CCB (eg: Diltiazem)
Anti-thyroid Medication (thionamides) 🡪 inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis
- E.g. Carbimazole, Propylthiouracil (PTU) 🡪 Block & Replace approach
Radioiodine (RAI): Will need Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement
Surgical aka thyroidectomy: partial or total (w/ thyroxine replacement)