Thyroid Flashcards
T4 and T4 are both taken up into cells but T__ is converted into T___ which binds to nuclear receptors and activates gene transcription.
T4→T3
What are 4 biological effects of thyroid hormones?
1) Brain development (perinatal period)
2) Growth (via GH production)
3) Thermogenic action (heat production)
4) Synthesis and effects of GH (Metab)
Describe the HPT axis in the regulation of thyroid hormone secretion.
Hypothalamus → TRH
Anterior pituitary → TSH
Thyroid → T3&4
- -ve feedback on both AP and Hypothalamus
What is not routinely tested for in thyroid disorders, why?
Free T3
i) very small titre
ii) very localised in tissues → hard to accurately measure
iii) very short T1/2
When is T3 tested for?
1) px is on thyroid replacement (if T4 is properly converting to T3)
2) suspected T3 toxicosis
Which hormones are routinely tested for in a px with suspected thyroid dysfunction?
1) TSH
2) Free T4
What are the 2 main clinical presentations of thyroid disease?
1) Goitre
- diffuse
- localised swelling/nodule
2) Functional derangement
- Hyperthyroidism/ Thyrotoxicosis
- Hypothyroidism
What are the symptoms, signs and biochemical findings in hyperthyroidism?
Symptoms:
1) Weight loss
2) Heat intolerance
3) Oligomenstrual
4) Diarrhoea
5) Irritable
6) ↑Appetite
Signs:
1) Thin
2) Staring gaze, lid lag, (exophthalmos in Grave’s)
3) Warm, sweaty skin
4) Tachycardia, Afib
5) Pretibial myxedema
6) Proximal myopathy
Biochemisty:
1) ↑Total T4
2) ↑T4
3) ↑T3
4) ↓TSH
5) ±autoantibodies (Grave’s, Early Hashimoto’s)
What are the symptoms, signs and biochemical findings in hypothyroidism?
Symptoms:
1) Weight Gain
2) Cold intolerance
3) Menorrhagia/oligomenstual
4) Constipation
5) Mental slowness
6) ↓Appetite
Sign:
1) Midly obese
2) Peaches and cream skin
3) Dry, cool skin
4) Bradycardia
5) Pericardial effusion
6) Proximal myopathy
Biochemical:
1) ↓Free T4
2) ↓T4
3) TSH (↑ in 1°, ↓ in 2°)
4) ±Autoantibodies (Hashimoto’s)
Which 4 thyroid conditions are associated with a diffuse goitre?
1) Grave’s disease
2) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
3) DeQuervain thyroiditis
4) Simple goitre
Which 3 thyroid conditions are associated with a localised swelling/nodular goitre?
1) Nodular goitre
2) Neoplasms
3) Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s, DeQuervain)
What are 4 causes of hyperthyroidism?
1) Grave’s disease
2) Hyperplasia
3) Nodular goitre
4) Neoplasms
What are 2 causes of hypothyroidism?
1) Hashimoto thyroiditis
2) Congenital abnormalities
Which thyroid conditions can lead to euthyroid?
1) Nodular goitre
2) Neoplasms
What are 4 congenital thyroid diseases?
1) Thyroglossal duct cyst
2) Abnormal development of thyroid gland (aplasia, hypoplasia)
3) Ectopic thyroid tissue
4) Thyroid dyshormogenesis
A Thyroglossal duct cyst is a embryonal vestige that occurs at (location) and can lead to (complications: 2).
Thyroglossal duct cyst:
- embryonal vestige
- midline neck cyst
- Cx: (i) Infection (ii) Malignant change
How are thyroglossal duct cysts treated?
Complete excision
What are 2 forms of abnormal development of thyroid glands?
1) Aplasia
2) Hypoplasia
What are 3 clinical presentations of abnormally developed thyroid gland?
1) Cretinism
- hypothyroidism in infancy or early childhood
2) Severe intellectual disability, short stature
3) Coarse facial features, protruding tongue, umbilical hernia
What are 3 common sites of ectopic thyroid tissue?
1) Upper GIT
2) Upper Respi Tract
3) Soft tissues of neck
4) CVS
What is thyroid dyshormonogenesis?
Inherited defects in thyroid hormone synthesis leading to congenital hypothyroidism and goitre
How does thyroid dyshormonogenesis present?
Mental and growth retardation
What is the pathogenesis of diffuse/multinodular goitre?
Due to abnormal iodine availability/usage → impaired synthesis of thyroid hormone:
1) Impaired synthesis of thyroid hormones:
i) endemic (iodine deficiency)
ii) sporadic (dyshormonogenetic goitre)
2) Compensatory ↑TSH
→ hypertrophy and hyperplasia of follicular cells
→ thyroid gland enlargement
3) Recurrent hyperplasia and involution → nodular enlargement (multinodular goitre)
Multinodular goitre is a __________ from simple goitre.
Progression
- recurrent hyperplasia and involution
True or false: A simple goitre is a form of hyperthyroidism.
False.
Simple goitre is known as diffuse non-toxic (non-hyperfunctioning) goitre
What are the 2 morphological phases of diffuse goitre?
1) Hyperplastic stage
- Diffuse mild enlargement
- micro: crowded columnar cells, pseudopapillae
2) Colloid involution
- Micro: flattened cuboidal epithelium
- abundant colloid
Multinodular goitre is an evolution of _______ and shows extreme, irregular enlargement ± cystic change.
Multinodular goitre:
- progress from simple goitre
- extreme, irregular enlargement
- cystic change
True or false: Multinodular goitre is the most common cause of goitre
True
What are 2 complications of multinodular goitre?
1) Mass effects:
a) trachea → wheeze, stridor, hypoxia
b) oesophagus → dysphagia
c) recurrent laryngeal nerve → hoarseness
2) Toxic goitre → hyperthyroidism
What are 2 autoimmune conditions affecting the thyroid?
1) Hashimoto thyroiditis
2) Grave’s disease (form of thyroid hyperplasia)
What are 2 examples of thyroiditides?
1) Granulomatous thyroiditis (DeQuervain thyroiditis)
2) IgG-4-related thyroiditis
3) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
What is the #1 cause of hypothyroidism where dietary iodine is sufficient?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Hashimoto thyroiditis EPC:
(M/F)
Which age group
Familial clustering: _________
a/w other autoimmune conditions eg. _______
Hashimoto thyroiditis EPC:
F 10-20X > M
45-65 y/o
Familial clustering: HLA - DR3, DR5
a/w other autoimmune conditions eg. T1DM
Describe the pathogenesis of Hashimoto thyroiditis.
CD4+ Sensitisation to thyroid Ags lead to:
1) CD8+ Tc cell-mediated cell death to thyrocytes
2) CD4+ Cytokine (IFN-y)-mediated cell death by recruitment and activation of macrophages
3) ADCC by production of autoAbs against (i) thyroglobulin (ii) TSHr (iii) Thyroid peroxidase/TPO
What are 3 clinical features of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
1) Painless goitre (diffuse>localised)
2) Hypothyroidism (T3/4 down, TSH up)
3) Anti-TPO, TSH, Tg Abs
4) Preceding transient thyrotoxicosis (hashitoxicosis)
What is the gross morphology of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
1) Pale, enlarged gland (diffuse > localised)
2) Pale, yellow firm cut surface (may be nodular)
What is the 3 microscopic features of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
1) Infiltrates: reactive lymphoid follicles, lymphocytes, plasma cells
2) Thyroid follicles - atrophic, Hurthle (oncocytic) cell change
3) Fibrosis
What are 3 complications of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
1) Primary Hypothyroidism (Low T3/4, high TSH)
2) Risk of other autoimmune diseases (eg. T1DM, SLE, Sjogren’s syndrome)
3) Higher risk of B cell lymphoma of thyroid (eg. MALT)
What is the #1 cause endogenous hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s disease
Graves’s disease EPC:
(M/F)
Age group
Family Hx + genes ___________
a/w with other autoimmune conditions
Graves’s disease EPC:
Women 7x > Men
20-40 y/o
Family Hx + HLA-B8, DR3
Describe the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease.
Breakdown in Th cell tolerance:
AutoAb to TSHr (TRAbs):
1) Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)
- 90% prevalence in px
- MOST SPECIFIC for Graves’
- binds to TSHr to stimulate release of T3/4 and increase growth of thyroid gland
2) TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII)
3) Others (anti-TPO, anti-TGB)
What are 6 clinical features of Graves’ disease?
1) Thyrotoxicosis
2) Diffuse goitre +/- bruit
3) Opthalmopathy (exophthalmos), Dermopathy (pretibial myxedema)
4) Wide, staring gaze w lid lag (sympathetic overactivity)
5) Primary hyperthyroidism (High T3/4, low TSH)
6) Increased radioiodine uptake
7) AutoAbs (TSI, TBII, anti-TPO, anti-TGB)
Describe the pathogenesis of ophthalmopathy in Graves’ disease.
1) Cytokines from activated Th cells cause T cell infiltration and edema
2) Increased ECM and fatty infiltration lead to increase volume in extra-occipital muscles, retro-orbital tissue
What are 2 gross features of a thyroid gland afflicted with Grave’s disease?
1) Symmetrical diffuse enlargement
2) Soft, reddish meaty cut surface
What are 3 microscopic features of Grave’s disease?
1) Follicular cells (pseudopapillae: tall, columnar, crowded)
2) Colloid (pale, scalloped)
3) Lymphoid infiltrates, reactive lymphoid follicles
What is the pathogenesis of granulomatous thyroiditis (DeQuervain thyroiditis)?
Suggested:
Viral-induced Tc cell response to thyroid Ags lead to damage of follicular cells
True or false: Granulomatous (DeQuervain) thyroiditis is usually self-limiting
True
What are 5 clinical features of granulomatous (DeQuervain thyroiditis)?
1) Short Hx (weeks) + Self-limiting
2) Painful goitre
3) Mild hyper then hypo then euthyroid
4) Systemic symptoms: recent URTI
5) Women 4x > Men, 30-50 y/o
What are 2 macroscopic features of Granulomatous (DeQuervain) thyroiditis?
1) Enlarged and firm gland (uni/bilateral)
2) Patchy, firm pale-yellowish areas w intervening normal parenchyma
What are 3 microscopic features of Granulomatous (DeQuervain) thyroiditis?
1) Destruction of follicles (w neutrophils, microabscesses)
2) Lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes around damages follicles
3) Multinucleated giant cells, engulfing pools of colloid
IgG4-related thyroiditis mimics ______ clinically with progressive __________ and adherence to neck structures. It is the likely underlying pathology in “________”
IgG4-related thyroiditis mimics malignancy
Progressive fibrosis, enlargement
Likely underlying pathology in “Riedel thyroiditis”
IgG4-related thyroiditis:
Serology: ________
Treatment: _________
A/W: ______________
IgG4-related thyroiditis:
Serology: Serum IgG4 raised
Treatment: Corticosteroid therapy
A/W: IgG-4 related fibrosclerotic disease (eg. retroperitoneal or mediastinal fibrosis, sclerosing cholangitis, lacrimal or salivary gland disease)
What are 2 microscopic features of IgG4-related thyroiditis?
Microscopic features:
1) Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (IgG4-producing plasma cells)
2) Fibrosis
3) Obliterative thrombophlebitis
Which of the thyroid neoplasms are associated with RAS mutations (PPARy/PAX8 rearrangments)?
1) Follicular adenoma (benign)
2) Follicular carcinoma (low grade malignant)
Which of the thyroid neoplasms are associated with BRAF mutations (RET/PTC rearrangements)?
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (low grade malignant)