Thyroid Flashcards
Risk factors for thyroid cancer
Male
Extreme age <20, >60
Family history of thyroid cancer/MEN2
Known MEN2
Hx of neck irradiation
Suspicious features on USG
Hypoechogenicity
Microcalcifications
Irregular border/margin
Taller than wide
Disrupted rim calcifications
Extrathyroidal extension
Suspicious cervical LN
Prognostic factors for thyroid cancer (list a few systems) for disease specific mortality
AGES
AMES
MACIS
TNM
Complications of thyroidectomy
Early:
Wound hematoma
Laryngeal edema
Trachomalacia
Nerve palsy /RLN injury
Hypocalcemia
Thyroid storm
Change in voice
Late:
Hypocalcemia
Hypothyroidism
Arterial supply of thyroid gland
Arterial
-Superior thyroid artery from the external carotid artery
-Inferior thyroid artery from the thyrocervical trunk
Thyroid ima artery from the brachiocephalic trunk
Supply of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
- all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid
- mucosa below vocal cord
Supply of the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve
cricothyroid
Pathway of the LEFT recurrent laryngeal nerve
arises left of arch of aorta
crosses the aortic arch
descends in front of aorta
loops under ligaments arteriosum
ascends on side of trachea
Physiological actions of thyroid hormone
Metabolic effect: increase BMR, energy (protein, carbohydrate, fat) metabolism
Neurological: cortical arousal
Cardiac: cardiac output, heart rate
GI: gut motility
MSK: catabolic activity of bone=
Choosing between hemithyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy. Risk factors
Size >4cm
BRAF mutation +ve
Sonographically suspicious of ETE
Bilateral nodular disease
Familial thyroid carcinoma
Prior neck RT
Patient preference
Advantages of total thyroidectomy over hemithyroidectomy
- Lower risk of recurrence
- Presence of multifocal disease in contralateral lobe is 35-80%
- Can perform remnant/adjuvant RAI ablation
- Surveillance with thyroglobulin levels
- Low morbidity
Indications for central compartment dissection
Positive central LN on palpation/USG/intraoperation
FNAC prevent positive lateral cervical LN
Tumor >4cm
Evidence of extra thyroidal extension
Indications for prophylactic central compartment dissection
Tumor >4cm
Evidence of ETE
Indication for modified radical neck dissection
FNAC proven lateral cervical LN
Describe the pathway of embryogenic thyroid descent
Foramen caecum (floor of pharynx/base of tongue)
Midline descent
Descends in front of hyoid bone
Curves backwards down to larynx
Importance of tubercle of Zuckerkandl
1) source of residual thyroid tissue
2) lateral to RLN
3) superior PTH is just cephalic to tubercle
Half life of thyroxine
7 days
Half life of T3
2.5 days