Pathology of the Endocrine System Flashcards
How do endocrine glands appear histologically?
Packets of cells
Secretory granules
Vascular
Ductless
Where are diffuse endocrine cells found?
Lung
GIT
Paraganglia
What does the posterior pituitary secrete?
Vasopressin
Oxytocin
What are the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?
GH ACTH TSH FSH + LH Prolactin
What is endocrine hyperplasia?
Increased number and secretory activity of cells
What is endocrine atrophy?
Diminution of cells due to lack of stimulation
What are the disease processes of endocrine organs?
Hyperplasia Atrophy Tissue damage Neoplasia Congenital abnormality
What are the neoplasms found in endocrine organs?
Adenoma
Carcinoma
How are causes determined in endocrine organs?
Morphological findings
Biochemical measurements
What does the thyroid gland secrete?
T3, T4
Calcitonin
How does the thyroid appear histologically?
Follicles surrounded by follicular cells
Follicles in the thyroid contain what?
Colloid (thyroglobulin)
What do C-cells secrete?
Calcitonin
What happens within the epithelial cells?
TH synthesis
Iodination
Resorption
Release
TRH secretion from the hypothalamus is stimulated by what?
Cold
Stress
What are the causes of hyperthyroidism?
Diffuse toxic hyperplasia (Graves’ disease) 70%
Toxic multinodular goitre 20%
Toxic adenoma
Graves’ disease is more common in who?
Females
20-40yrs
Genetically predisposed
What is graves’ disease?
Autoimmune production of anti-TSH receptor antibodies
Stimulate activity and inhibit TSH binding to TSH receptors
Goitre
How does Graves’ disease cause ophthalmopathy?
Ocular fibroblasts have TSH receptors
How does the thyroid appear histologically in Graves’ disease?
Cell proliferation and increased activity
What are the causes of Hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Iatrogenic
Iodine Deficiency
Congenital
Which drugs increase the risk of hypothyroidism?
Methimazole
Lithium
Hashimotos thyroiditis is more common in which group?
Females
45-65yrs
What is Hashimotos thyroiditis?
Autoimmune Hypothyroidism due to Cytotoxic T cell/cytokine mediated destruction of thyroid epithelial cells
Hashimotos thyroiditis causes circulating what?
Antibodies to thyroglobulin
Thyroid peroxidase
What causes a multinodular goitre?
Iodine deficiency
Goitrogens