Pathology Flashcards
At what level is the thyroid gland situated?
C6/7
What structures are the thryoid made of?
Follicles
Histologically, what kind of cells make up the follicle?
Cuboidal follicular epithelial cells
Where does the thyroglobulin live within the follicle?
In the colloid
What are the parafollicular cells often called?
C cells
What do C cells produce?
Calcitonin
Which hormone, made in the hypothalamus, stimulates the anterior pituitary?
Thyrotopin releasing hormone
Which hormone is made in the anterior pituitary?
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Where does TSH act on?
TSH receptor on the surface of thyroid epithelial cells
What intermediate step is needed before thyroglobulin is released?
G proteins on the TSH receptor convert GTP to GDP and produces cAMP
What does cAMP do?
Causes the release of T3 and T4
What is the main cause of hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s disease
What is the main cause of hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
In whom does Graves commonly present?
Females aged 20-40
What is Grave’s disease?
Antibodies to the TSH receptor, thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxisomes
What three things are common in Grave’s disease?
Hyperthryoidism
Eye changes e.g. exophthalmos
Pretibial myxoedema
Who does Hashimotos’s disease affect?
Middle aged women with other AI diseases
What drugs can cause hypothyroidism?
Lithim
Amiodarone
What antibodies are present in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Anti-thyroglobulin
Anti-peroxidase (Anti-TPO)
What inflammatory cells are involved in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
CD8 cells
Cytokines
What cancer is more likely in someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
A rise in what hormone causes goitre?
TSH
What can a multinodular goitre be mistaken for?
Thyroid neoplasm
How might a follicular adenoma present?
Discrete solitary mass
Is an adenoma TSH dependent or independent?
Independent
How can an ademona cause hyperthryoidism?
It can secrete T3/4
In whom do thyroid carcinomas present?
Early adult females
What is the most common type of carcinoma?
Papillary
What kind of nuclei are said to be present in papillary carcinomas?
Orphan Annie nuclei
What other bodies are present on histology in a papillary carcinoma?
Psammoma bodies
How does follicular cancer tend to spread?
Haematogenously
In which carcinoma may amyloid be depositied?
Medullary
What cells make up the parathyroid?
Chief cells
Oxyphil cells
What hormone does the parathyroid glands secrete?
Parathyroid hormone
Which genetic condition can have hypoparathyroid?
Di George syndrome
What is the mneumonic for Di George syndrome?
Cardiac abnormalities (TOF) Abnormal facies Thymus hypoplasia Cleft palate Hypoparathyroidism 22 - chromosome 22
What can hypoparathyroidism cause?
Tetany
Long QT
Dental abnormalities
Cataracts
