Pathology of the thyroid Flashcards
What level does the thyroid sit at?
C5/6 - T1
How heavy is the thyroid gland?
15-25g
How does the thyroid develop embryologically?
Evagination of pharyngeal epithelium
Descent from foramen caecum to normal location along thyroglossal duct
What can cause a lingual thyroid?
Failure of descent
What can cause a retrosternal location thyroid in the mediastinum?
Excessive descent
What composes the thyroid histologically?
Follicles that are surrounded by flat to cuboidal epithelial cells. Within the centre of each follicle is a dense amorphic pink material (colloid) containing thyroglobulin
Scattered C cells (parafollicular cells)
What do C cells secrete?
Calcitonin
What is the hormone release axis of the thyroid?
Hypothalamus singals to anterior pituitary via TRH to release TSH
TSH acts on the thyroid gland to release T3 and T4
What is the negative feedback loop for the thyroid gland?
T3/4 act on the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus to prevent the release of TSH and TRH
How does TSH stimulate thyroid hormon release?
Binds to TSH receptors on the surface of thyroid epithelial cells
This activates G proteins with the conversion of GTP to GDP and the production of cAMP
What does cAMP do in the follicular cells?
It increases the production and release of T3 and T4
What will T3 and T4 do?
Bind to nucleus in target cells via hybrid nuclear receptors
Binds to thyroid response elements on these enes
Stimulate transcription of these genes that regulate the BMR
What can an enlargement of the thyroid gland present as?
Mass effect - stridor, dysphagia
What autoimmune disease causes hypothyrodism?
Hashimoto’s thyroditis
What autoimmune disease causes hyperthyrodism?
Grave’s disease
What polymorphisms are present in hashimoto’s thyroditis?
CTLA-4 - negative regulator of T cell responses,
PTPN-22 - inhibitis T cell response
What are the other causes outwith autoimmune diseases that cause thyroid problems?
Infection Palpation Subactue lymphocytic de Quervian's Ridel's
What will the thyroid gland be like in Ridel’s?
Associated with fibrosis with a hrad/craggy gland that mimics a malignancy
What can cause hyperthyrodism?
85% grave's Hyperfunctioning nodules and tumours TSH secreting pituitary adenoma Thyroditis Ectopic production (stuma ovarii) Factitious (exogenous intake)
Who is grave’s disease likely to affect?
10F:1M
20-40 years oldd
What antibodies will be present in grave’s disease?
Anti-TSH - thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin
What is the triad of features associated with grave’s disease?
Hyperthyrodism with diffuse enlargement of the thyroid
Eye changes
Pretibial myoxdema
What does grave’s disease look like histologically?
Many lymphoid cells
Thyroid follicles that lack colloid
Colloid scalloping
What is hypothyrodism?
Symptoms and signs due to low levels of T3 and T4
What is the main pathology causing hypothyrodism?
Hashimoto’s thyroditis
Who is likely to get hashimoto’s thyroditis?
Middle aged women
What genetic associations are there with hashimoto’s thyroditis?
HLA-DR3
DR5
What else apart from hashimotos can cause hypothyrodidism?
Iodine deficiency Drugs (lithium) Post therapy (surgery, irradiation)
What thyroid antibodies are associated with hashimoto’s?
Anti-thyroglobulin
Anti-peroxidase
What happens immunologically in hashimoto’s?
CD8+ T cells mediate destruction dependent cell mediated toxicity
Gamma interferon from T cell activation recruits macrophages that may damage thyroid follicles