Imaging relevant to endocrine disease Flashcards
Where does the pituitary gland sit?
In the base of the skull in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone
Connected to hypothalamus via pituitary stalk
Found inferior to the optic chiasm
Lateral to the carotid arteries
What type of pituitary tumours tend to be hormonally active?
Microadenomas
What does the thyroid gland lie deep to?
Strap muscles: stenohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, omohyoid
What are the anatomical landmarks of the thyroid gland?
Anterior to trachea and esophagus
Deep to strap muscles
Medial to common carotid and internal jugular veins
Lies superior to the sterum
Associated with recurrent laryngeal nerves and parathyroid gland
What structures do the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves pass under respectively?
Right - Right subclavian artery
Left - arch of the aorta
What can present as a midline neck mass?
Goitre Lymph nodes but typically eccentric Thyroglossal cyst Cystic hygroma Thyroid cancer Metastatic cancer
When is a thyroid ultrasound used?
In euthyroid patients with a goitre/palpable nodules and hyperthyroid patients with a focal mass/ radioisotope uptake
What is used in thyroid scintigraphy?
Tc 99
What does a homogenous increased tracer uptake of more than 3% suggest?
Graves disease
What conditions will cause reduced uptake by the thyroid gland?
Hashimotos
Amiodarone disease
Post-partum thyroiditis
Where do the adrenal glands lie?
Suprarenal position
What are the anatomical relations of the right adrenal gland?
Posterior to the IVC
What are the anatomical relations of the left adrenal gland?
Lateral to the aorta and left diaphragmatic crus
What is the 10% rule of phaeochromocyomas?
10% are extra-adrenal 10% are bilateral 10% are found in children 10% are familial - MEN syndrome 10% are not associated with hypertension
What cancers should be looked for in the ase of an adrenal metastasis?
Lungs
Liver
Adrenal glands