Parathyroid C59 P452-458 Flashcards
ANATOMY
How many parathyroids are
there?
P452
Usually four (two superior and two inferior)
ANATOMY
What percentage of patients
have five parathyroid glands?
P452
≈5% (Think: 5 = 5)
ANATOMY What percentage of patients have three parathyroid glands? P452
≈10%
ANATOMY What is the usual position of the inferior parathyroid glands? P452
Posterior and lateral behind the thyroid
and below the inferior thyroid artery
ANATOMY
What is the most common
site of an “extra” gland?
P452
Thymus gland
ANATOMY What percentage of patients have a parathyroid gland in the mediastinum? P452
≈1%
ANATOMY If only three parathyroid glands are found at surgery, where can the fourth one be hiding? P452
Thyroid gland Thymus/mediastinum Carotid sheath Tracheoesophageal groove Behind the esophagus
ANATOMY What is the embryologic origin of the following structures: Superior parathyroid glands? P453
Fourth pharyngeal pouch
ANATOMY What is the embryologic origin of the following structures: Inferior parathyroid glands? P453
Third pharyngeal pouch
counterintuitive
ANATOMY
What supplies blood to the
parathyroid glands?
P453
Inferior thyroid artery
ANATOMY What percentage of patients have all four parathyroid glands supplied by the inferior thyroid arteries exclusively? P453
≈80%
ANATOMY
What is DiGeorge’s
syndrome?
P453
Congenital absence of the parathyroid
glands and the thymus
ANATOMY What is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in hospitalized patients? P453
Cancer
ANATOMY What is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in outpatients? P453
Hyperparathyroidism
PHYSIOLOGY
What cell type produces
PTH?
P453
Chief cells produce ParaThyroid
Hormone (PTH)
PHYSIOLOGY
What are the major actions
of PTH?
P453
Increases blood calcium levels (takes from bone breakdown, GI absorption, increased resorption from kidney, excretion of phosphate by kidney), decreases serum phosphate
PHYSIOLOGY
How does vitamin D work?
P453
Increases intestinal absorption of calcium
and phosphate
PHYSIOLOGY
Where is calcium absorbed?
P453
Duodenum and proximal jejunum
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (HPTH)
Define primary HPTH.
P454
Increased secretion of PTH by parathyroid
gland(s); marked by elevated calcium,
low phosphorus
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (HPTH)
Define secondary HPTH.
P454
Increased serum PTH resulting from calcium wasting caused by renal failure or decreased GI calcium absorption, rickets or osteomalacia; calcium levels are usually low
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (HPTH)
Define tertiary HPTH.
P454
Persistent HPTH after correction of secondary hyperparathyroidism; results from autonomous PTH secretion not responsive to the normal negative feedback due to elevated Ca⁺ ⁺ levels
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (HPTH)
What are the methods of
imaging the parathyroids?
P454
Surgical operation Ultrasound Sestamibi scan 201TI (technetium)–thallium subtraction scan CT/MRI A-gram (rare) Venous sampling for PTH (rare)
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (HPTH) What are the indications for a localizing preoperative study? P454
Reoperation for recurrent
hyperparathyroidism