Imaging in Endocrinology Flashcards
which MRI sequence shows cerebrospinal fluid as black?
T1
which MRI sequence is better for looking at anatomical structures?
T1
which MRI sequence is better for looking at pathologies?
T2
what structure is the pituitary gland found in?
sella turcica
what connects the pituitary gland to the brain?
via pituitary stalk
does the sphenoid sinus look dark or light on MRI?
dark
where is the pituitary in relation to the optic chiasm?
inferior
what structure(s) is/are located lateral to the pituitary gland?
carotid arteries
where is the hypothalamus in relation to the pituitary gland?
superior
what is the thyroid gland deep to?
strap muscles
best imaging for thyroid?
CT
USS
what structure(s) is/are lateral to the thyroid
common carotid arteries
internal jugular veins
is the internal jugular vein or the common carotid artery located most medially?
common carotid
what colour will the trachea appear on CT and why?
black as it is gas filled
what colour will the thyroid appear on CT and why?
very white as it is full of iodine
what structure is particularly at risk in a total thyroidectomy?
parathyroid glands
what would you suspect in a lateral mass over the neck?
enlarged lymph nodes
what would you suspect in a midline mass in the neck?
enlarged thyroid
diffuse causes of hyperthyroidism?
graves
thyroiditis
focal causes of hyperthyroidism?
dominant nodule
when would thyroid USS be used in euthyroid patients?
goite
palpable nodule
when would thyroid USS be used in hyperthyroidism?
focal masses
radioisotope uptake
is thyroid uptake percentage greater in graves or euthyroid
graves
what condition presents with homogenously reduced tracer uptake in thyroid uptake scan?
thyroiditis
what condition presents with foscal uptake in the right upper pole?
multi nodular goitre with a dominant nodule
best imaging for adrenals?
CT
MRI
what do the adrenals look like on MRI?
upside down Y shapes
name the 2 limbs of an adrenal gland?
medial
lateral
what relationship does the right adrenal gland have with the IVC?
lies posterior to it
where is the left adrenal gland in relation to the aorta?
lateral
when would you do an MABG test?
if you suspect phaeochromocytoma but catecholamines arent raised
where is the epiphysis on an image?
above the growth plate
what part of the bone is changing?
metaphysis
what do trabeculae look like on imaging?
white, squiggly lines
how are trabeculae formed?
osteoblasts replace cartilage with osteoid
what part of the bone are trabeculae in?
medulla but condense towards the cortex
where do cartilaginous bones first ossify?
diaphysis
where do cartilage bones ossify after their first ossification?
epiphysis
how is bone girth increased?
cell proliferation from the periosteum
how is bone length increased?
cartilage proliferation at the growth plates
where is the metaphysis?
under the growth plate
name a diffuse bone abnormality
brittle bone disease osteoporosis rickets osteomalacia pagets
density of which area of bone is affected in osteoporosis?
trabeculae
what pathology is common to rickets and osteomalacia?
non ossification of soft osteoid
what dos rickets look like on x ray?
widened growth plates
irregular, flared metaphyses
what kind of fractures can myelomas cause?
multiple wedge compression fractures
what happens in pagets?
increased bone turnover
what does the sclerotic phase of pagets cause?
enlarged bone
increased density
coarse trabecular pattern
difference between lytic and sclerotic phases of bone conditions?
lytic = bone destruction sclerotic = bone formation
how is bone destructed in the lucent phase of bone conditions?
loss of trabeculae and inner cortex
medullary lucency
how is bone formed in the sclerotic phase of bone conditions?
loss of trabeulae
spreading density to featureless white bone
what does lucent mean?
benign
well defined
sclerotic pelvis + ureteric stent on imaging = ?
prostate cancer
what kind of imaging is good for osteotic bone mets?
bone scentigraphy
activity of what cells is measured in a bone scan?
osteoblasts
