Pathology of the Endocrine System Flashcards
How is balance of endocrine systems maintained?
By feedback inhibition
How are endocrine organs linked?
By feedback axis
3 things that can go wrong in endocrine pathology
Hyperfunction
Hypofunction
Effect of a mass lesion
Definition of hyperplasia
Increased number and secretory activity of cells
Definition of atrophy
Diminution of cells due to lack of stimulation
How would tissue damage of an endocrine organ be caused?
Inflammation Autoimmune disease Compression Trauma Infarction
Two types of neoplasia of endocrine organs
Adenoma (benign)
Carcinoma (malignant)
Types of adenoma
Functioning
Non functioning
Types of carcinoma
Primary
Metastatic
What does the thyroid gland produce?
Thyroxine T4
Triiodothyronine T3
Calcitonin
What secretes calcitonin?
C cells
Causes of hyperthyroidism
Graves disease 70%
Toxic multinodular goitre 20%
Toxic adenoma
Who gets graves disease?
F > M
Peak 20-40 years
Is there a genetic predisposition to get graves disease?
Yes
Pathology of graves disease
Autoimmune production of anti TSH receptor antibodies
Stimulate activity, growth and inhibit TSH binding
Histology of graves disease
Increased cell activity
Increased cell numbers
Causes of hypothyroidism
Hashimotos thyroiditis
Iatrogenic - surgery, drugs
Iodine deficiency
Congenital hypothyroidism
Who gets Hashimotos thyroiditis?
F > M
45 - 65 y/o
Pathology of hashimotos thyroiditis
Autoimmune destruction of thyroid epithelial cells
Cytotoxic T cells, cytokine and antibody mediated destruction
Circulating antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase
Size of the thyroid in hashimotos disease
Originally - the gland gets bigger even though it is being destroyed, as it is trying to compensate
This does result in destruction however and fails and therefore the gland then gets smaller
Histology of hashimotos
Hurthle cell change
- swollen
Intense infiltrate of lymphocytes and plasma cells
What is goitre?
An enlarged thyroid
Pathology of multinodular goitre
Iodine deifiency/goitrogens/other causes
Impaired synthesis of T3,T4
Increased TSH
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of epithelium
What may develop in multinodular goitre?
Autonomous “toxic nodule”
Pathology of multinodular goitre
Area of the thyroid that is no longer responding to TSH stimulation and reduction
Pumps out thyroxin regardless
What may the dominant nodule in a multinodular goitre be?
Cyst
Follicular adenoma
Carcinoma
Investigations of a thyroid nodule
TFTs
USS
FNA
What do parathyroid glands produce?
PTH
How many parathyroid glands are there?
4
What does PTH do?
Regulates plasma Ca2+
Presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism
Usually asymptomatic hypercalcaemia
Causes of primary hyperparathyroidism
Sporadic or familial (MEN-1)
- adenoma 85-95%
- hyperplasia 5-10%
- carcinoma - rare