Histopathology 4 - Endocrine disease Flashcards
What are the most common causes of hyper- and hypo-pituitarism?
Hyperpituitarism: functional adenoma
Hypopituitarism: nonsecretory adenomas/ ischaemic necrosis (Sheehan)/ surgery
What are the 3 symptoms of local mass effect of pituitary tumours?
Bitemporal hemianopia
Elevated ICP
Obstructive hydrocephalus
Recall 4 differentials for primary hyperthyroidism
- Grave’s
- Hyperfunctioning multinodular goitre
- Hyperfunctioning adenoma
- Thyroiditis
What is the cause of secondary hyperthyroidism?
TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma (rare)
NB: Causes NOT associated with thyroid disease
o Struma ovarii (ovarian teratoma with ectopic thyroid)
o Factitious thyrotoxicosis (exogenous thyroid intake)
How can struma ovarii cause thyroid disease?
Ovarian teratomas can secrete ectopic thyroxine
What autoimmune condition can cause hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s
Differentiate the type of auto-antibodies involved in Grave’s vs Hashimoto’s
Grave’s: anti-TSH
Hashimoto’s: anti-TPO and anti-TG (thyroglobulin)
What is the histological appearance of a Hashimoto’s thyroid?
Lymphocyte aggregates and transformed follicular cells
What are the main symptoms of Hashimoto’s?
Clinically hypothyroid
Painless goitre
Recall differentials for the cause of hypothyroidism
- Postablative
- Iodine deficiency
- Congenital biosynthetic defect
- Autoimmune (Hashimoto’s)
Secondary Causes
o Pituitary or hypothalamic failure (MOST COMMON)
What is a thyroid adenoma?
Benign neoplasm of follicular thyroid epithelium
How are thyroid adenomas diagnosed?
FNA and cytology
What is the most common type of thyroid carcinoma?
Papillary (75-85%)
Follicular (10-20%)
Medullary (5%)
Anaplastic (< 5%)
What are the key histological features of papillary thyroid cancer?
Optically clear nuclei Psammoma bodies (little folliculi of calcification)
Which type of thyroid carcinoma is associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia?
Medullary
Neuroendocrine neoplasm derived from parafollicular C cells (which secrete calcitonin)
- 80% are sporadic in adults (present at 50-60 years)
- 20% are familial (associated with MEN) which are seen in younger patients*
Which type of thyroid carcnoma is most aggressive?
Anaplastic
- Occurs in elderly patients
- It is very aggressive