Imaging in Endocrinology

Question 1

pituitary gland characteristics (5)

Answer 1

Found in SELLA TURCICA

Connected to brain via PITUITARY STALK

Closely related to SPHENOID SINUS

Found inferior to the OPTIC CHIASM + HYPOTHALMUS

CAROTID ARTERIES laterally

Question 2

pituitary gland (3)

Answer 2

Midline structure
Anterior & Posterior parts
Well seen on MRI

Question 3

Thyroid (5)

Answer 3

Right and left lobes
Joined by Isthmus
Deep to strap muscles of the neck
Well visualised on CT and US
Also imaged with Nuc Med

Question 4

Thyroid characteristics (7)

Answer 4

RIGHT & LEFT lobes

Joined by ISTHMUS

Anterior to TRACHEA & OESOPHAGUS

Medial to COMMON CAROTID ARTERIES + INTERNAL JUGULAR VEINS

Inferior relations include STERNUM, GREAT VESSELS & AORTIC ARCH

Recurrent Laryngeal nerves

Parathyroid Glands

Question 5

Thyroid Ultrasound (2)

Answer 5

-Safe, No ionising radiation, well tolerated
-Can be combined with Fine Needle Aspiration

Question 6

Thyroid Scintigraphy (3)

Answer 6

-I-123 or Tc 99m
-Tc 99m used locally, injected IV, patients imaged after 20 mins
-Images assessed for PATTERN & QUANTITY of tracer uptake

Question 7

Adrenal glands (3)

Answer 7

Retroperitoneal
Largely SUPRARENAL position
Readily seen on CT and MRI

Question 8

Adrenal glands characteristics

Answer 8

Two limbs, MEDIAL & LATERAL

Right adrenal lies posterior to IVC

Left adrenal lies to lateral to AORTA and left DIAPHRAGMATIC CRUS