Thyroid Flashcards
What is the thyroid gland shaped like?
Butterfly
Where is the thyroid gland located?
Anterior neck:
From thyroid cartilage to 3rd tracheal ring.
What are the three main areas of the thyroid gland?
L+R lobes
Isthmus
What is an additional 4th area of the thyroid gland sometimes present?
Pyramidal lobe
How many people have a pyramidal lobe?
45%
Where is the isthmus located?
Between lobes anteriorly to 2nd and 3rd tracheal rings
What is found attached to the back of the thyroid gland?
Parathyroid glands
What are the four compartments of the neck?
Prevertebral fascia
Investing fascia
Pretracheal fascia
Carotid sheaths
What muscles are not contained in a fascia compartment?
Platysmal muscles
What do platysma muscles do and what innervates them?
Facial expression
CNVII
What is contained in the prevertebral fascia?
Vertebrae
Postural neck muscles
Where is the investing fascia found?
Surrounding the other compartments of the neck
What is contained within the investing fascia?
Trapezius
Sternocleidomastoid
What is contained in the carotid sheaths?
Vagus nerve
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Carotid artery
Internal jugular vein
What links the carotid sheaths?
Retropharyngeal space
What is important to know about the retropharyngeal space?
Back links with chest lining therefore infection can spread.
What is contained within the paratracheal fascia?
Oesophagus Trachea Thyroid gland Strap muscles Recurrent laryngeal nerves
What are the four strap muscles?
Thyrohyoid
Sternothyroid
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid
What innervates the strap muscles?
Fibres from C1 travelling with hypoglossal- Thyrohyoid
Anas cervicalis from C1-3- Others
How many arteries supply the thyroid gland?
4 or 5
What are the arteries that supply the thyroid gland?
R+L superior thyroid
R+L inferior thyroid
Ima artery (not always present)
Where do the superior thyroid arteries originate from?
Common carotid arteries
Where do the inferior thyroid arteries originate from?
Subclavian arteries
Where does the ima artery originate from?
Brachiocephalic artery
How many veins drain the thyroid gland?
6
What six veins drain the thyroid gland?
R+L Superior thyroid vein
R+L Middle thyroid vein
R+L Inferior thyroid vein
Where do the superior and middle thyroid veins originate from?
Internal jugulars
Where do the inferior thyroid veins originate from?
Brachiocephalic vein
How many groups of lymph nodes drain the thyroid gland?
5
What five groups of lymph nodes drain the thyroid gland?
Superior deep cervical lymph nodes
R+L Inferior deep cervical lymph nodes
Paratracheal
Paratracheal
Which lymph nodes often metastasise?
Tracheal ones.
What two nerves are often impinged by the thyroid gland?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Vagus nerve
Where do the recurrent laryngeal nerves run?
In the carotid sheaths then loop under the arch of the aorta (L) and right subclavian artery (R)
Where do the vagus nerves run?
In the carotid sheaths beside the pretracheal fascia
What vertebra levels does the thyroid gland span?
C5-T1
What part of the thyroid gland needs to be moved to perform a tracheostomy?
Isthmus
What are the basic units of the thyroid gland?
Follicles
What are the two areas of a thyroid follicle?
Follicular cells
Colloid
Where are follicular cells found?
As a single cell layer round the outside of the follicle
Where is the colloid found?
In the centre of the follicle
What is stored in the colloid?
Thyroglobulin
What other cells are found in the follicle?
Parafollicular C cells (rare).
Little role in humans
What chemical does the thyroid gland predominantly use?
Iodine
What happens to iodine once it has been taken up into follicular cells?
It is excreted into the colloid along with thyroglobulin where they are conjugated to form T3 and T4.
What are the first products of iodine and thyroglobulin conjugation?
MIT
DIT
What happens to MIT and DIT?
Joined together to form T3 and T4
What are T3 and T4?
Thyroid hormones.
Which thyroid hormone is most abundant?
T4 (makes up 90%)
Which thyroid hormone is most active?
T3 (4x more active)
What happens to T4 in the tissues?
Converted to T3
How is the majority of thyroid hormone transported in the blood?
Bound to proteins
What proteins commonly bind thyroid hormone?
Thyroxine binding globulin/TBG (70%)
Thyroxine binding prealbumin/TBPA (20%)
Albumin (5%)
Free thyroid hormone
What kind of receptor is the thyroid hormone receptor?
Nuclear
What general effects does thyroid hormone have on the body?
Increased met Increased thermogenesis Increased growth Aids development Modifies behaviour
What effect do thyroid hormones have on metabolism?
Increase it
How do thyroid hormones increase metabolism?
Increase mitochondria
Mobilize fats
Build protein
Increase blood glucose
What effect do thyroid hormones have on thermogenesis?
Increase it
How do thyroid hormones increase thermogenesis?
Increase electron uncoupling
What effect do thyroid hormones have on growth?
Increase it
How do thyroid hormones increase growth?
Increase release of GHSH
Is thyroid hormone important for foetal brain development?
Yes
What affect does thyroid hormone have on behaviour?
Can cause Permissive Sympathomimetic activity
What is Permissive Sympathomimetic activity?
Increased sensitivity to adrenalin and noradrenalin bu increasing receptors.
What effect does Permissive Sympathomimetic activity
have?
Increase HR and force
How is thyroid hormone release regulated?
Hypothalamus thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stims pit thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) which stims thyroid hormone release from thyroid.
How can thyroid hormones regulate their release?
T3/T4 inhibit TRH and TSH release therefore decreasing further thyroid hormone release.
What kind of feedback loop regulated thyroid hormone release?
Negative feedback
What external factors can stimulate thyroid hormone release?
Cold- Increases TRH
Stress- Increases TRH and TSH
Circadian rhythm- Levels highest at night
Where does thyroid hormone metabolism occur?
All tissues
What enzymes cause thyroid metabolism?
Deiodinase 1
Deiodinase 2
Deiodinase 3
Where are the individual deoidinases found and what do they do?
D1- Liver and kidneys. T4 -> T3
D2- All tissues. T4 -> T3
D3- T4 -> rT3 to inhibit function
Why do we have D1?
Incase D2 fails
What are the four broad pathological categories of thyroid disease?
Hypothyroidism
Thyrotoxicosis/Hyperthyroidism
Subclinical thyroid disease
Non-thyroid illness/sick euthyroid syndrome
What external factors can decrease thyroid hormone release?
Steroids- inhibit TSH
What is Non-thyroid illness/sick euthyroid syndrome?
Disruption of the HPT axis due to systemic illness decreases TSH levels.
Why should you not check thyroid hormone levels in a sick patient?
Non-thyroid illness/sick euthyroid syndrome
What is subclinical thyroid disease?
Altered TSH levels with no clinical symptoms
How do you diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism?
Raised TSH and normal thyroid hormone
When do you treat subclinical hypothyroidism?
TSH > 10 and always in pregnancy
How do you diagnose subclinical hyperthyroidism?
Low TSH and normal thyroid hormone
When do you treat subacute hyperthyroidism?
TSH < 0.1
What two conditions is subacute hyperthyroidism associated with?
Osteoporosis
AF
What is hypothyroidism?
Lack of thyroid hormone
What are the three categories of hypothyroidism?
Primary
Secondary
Myxoedema
Where is the issue in primary hypothyroidism?
Thyroid gland
Where is the issue in secondary hypothyroidism?
Pit gland
What are the three kinds of primary hypothyroidism?
Goitrous
Non-goitrous
Self-limiting
Give some examples of self-limiting primary hypothyroidism
Withdrawal of antithyroid drugs
Subacute thyroiditis with hypothyroidism
Post-partum thyroiditis
Give some examples of non-goitrous primary hypothyroidism
Atrophic thyroiditis
Post radiotherapy or surgery
Congenital developmental defects
Give some examples of goitrous primary hypothyroidism
Chronic thyroiditis/Hashimoto's disease Dietary lack of iodine Drug induced Maternally transmitted Inherited biosynthetic defects
What is Chronic thyroiditis/Hashimoto’s disease?
Autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland
WHat groups is Chronic thyroiditis/Hashimoto’s disease most common in?
Women
Most common hypo in the west
How do you test for Chronic thyroiditis/Hashimoto’s disease?
Antibody against thyroid peroxidase (TPO)
T cell infiltration
What things can cause secondary hypothyroidism?
Infection Injury Infiltration Malignancy Congenital Radiotherapy Drug induced
What is myxoedema?
Severe hypothyroidism and a medical emergency.
What group is mainly affected by myxoedema?
Elderly women
How does myxoedema present?
Bradycardia
Heart block
T wave inversion
Prolonged QT intervals
How do you treat myxoedema?
ABCDE
Rewarm
Thyroxine- give slowly
How do you treat hypothyroidism generally?
Gradually restore levels with levothyroxine.
What doses of levothyroxine should you start on?
Young: 50-100 micrograms
Old: 25-50 micrograms
How often should you adjust levothyroxine dose at the start?
Every 4 weeks
Once thyroid hormone levels are stable how often should they be checked?
12-18 months
What is the drug of choice for treating hypothyroidism?
Levothyroxine- Take on an empty stomach and avoid meds containing Ca and Fe
What should you use as your guide for restoring thyroid hormone levels?
Primary- TSH levels
Secondary- fT4 levels
What is thyrotoxicosis?
Condition occurring when tissues are exposed to too much thyroid hormone
What are some cardiac symptoms of thyrotoxicosis?
Palpitations
Af
Cardiac failure (rare)
What are some systemic symptoms of thyrotoxicosis?
Tremor Sweating Weight loss Brittle thin hair Rapid fingernail growth Muscle weakness Heat intolerance
What are some GI symptoms of thyrotoxicosis?
Diarrhoea
What are some psychiatric symptoms of thyrotoxicosis?
Anxiety
Irritability
What are some eye symptoms of thyrotoxicosis?
Eyelid retraction
Double vision
Proptosis- bulging eyes seen in Grave’s due to fluid retention round orbits.
What is a reproductive symptom of thyrotoxicosis?
Lighter less frequent periods
What are the five categories of pathology that can cause thyrotoxicosis?
Hyperthyroidism Thyroiditis Exogenous thyroid hormones Ectopic thyroid tissue Thyroid storm/crisis
What are some causes of ectopic thyroid tissue?
Metastatic thyroid carcinoma
Struma ovarii
What are some causes of exogenous thyroid hormone?
Overtreatment with levothyroxine
Thyrotoxicosis factitia- intentional levothyroxine OD
What is a thyroid storm/crisis?
Medical emergency due to severe hyperthyroidism
How does a thyroid storm/crisis present?
Reap and cardiac collapse
Hyperthermia
Exaggerated reflexes
How do you treat a thyroid storm/crisis?
ABCDE Ventilation PTU Lugol's iodine Steroids B-blockers Fluids Monitoring
What are the three broad categories of hyperthyroidism?
Primary
Secondary
Choriocarcinoma
What is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism?
Autoimmune
How do you diagnose primary hypothyroidism?
Low fT3/4
High TSH
95% positive for anti-TPO Ab
How do you diagnose primary hyperthyroidism?
High fT3/4
Low TSH
What are the four causes of primary hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s disease
Hashitoxicosis
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid nodules
What is hashitoxicosis?
Hyperthyroidism as a precursor to Hashimoto’s disease
How common is thyroid cancer?
Very rare
What is Grave’s disease?
Autoimmune disease where Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) acts like TSH but unchecked by T3/T4
What antibody is responsible for Grave’s disease?
Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)
How does Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) cause Grave’s disease?
Acts like TSH but unregulated by T3/T4
What are the special signs and symptoms only seen in Grave’s disease?
Pretibial myxoedema- very rare
Thyroid acropachy- Severe finger clubbing
Thyroid bruits- Auscultate over thyroid in patients with large goiter
Thyroid eye disease (TED)/Grave’s ophthalmopathy (GO)
Describe Thyroid eye disease (TED)/Grave’s ophthalmopathy (GO)
Occurs in 20% Grave’s patients but can predate it
Uni or bi lateral
Worse with smoking
TRAb driven
How do you treat Thyroid eye disease (TED)/Grave’s ophthalmopathy (GO)?
Mild- Lubricants
Severe- Steroids, surgery, radiotherapy
How do you diagnose Thyroid eye disease (TED)/Grave’s ophthalmopathy (GO)?
Low TSH- often 0
High fT3/4
TRAb (TSH receptor Ab)- if raised no need to image
What can Thyroid eye disease (TED)/Grave’s ophthalmopathy (GO) be associated with?
Cardiac abnormalities
Increased calcium and ALP- gives osteoporosis
Leucopenia (low WCC)
What are thyroid nodules?
Lumps of glandular tissue that can secrete excessive thyroid hormones or invade other structures.
Describe thyroid nodules
Tend to be symmetrical and may feel nodular. Move with thyroid
What are the two forms of thyroid nodule possible?
Solitary
Multinodular goiter
How do you diagnose thyroid nodules?
Low TSH and high fT3/4
TRAb negative
High iodine uptake on imaging
US
Give a cause of secondary hyperthyroidism
Thyrotropinoma
What causes Thyrotropinoma?
Pit adenoma causing increased TSH release.
What is a Choriocarcinoma?
Tumour is uterus which secretes hCG. hCG is structurally similar to TSH therefore get unregulated thyroid stim.
How do you treat hyperthyroidism?
Antithyroid drugs
Beta-blockers
Radioiodine
Thyroidectomy
What two antithyroid drugs are used?
Carbimazole
Propythiouracil (PTU)
When is Carbimazole used?
1st line- only don’t use in 1st trimester
When is Propythiouracil (PTU) used?
In the first trimester
Why is Carbimazole prefered to PTU?
More potente (once daily dose)
Which beta blocker is routinely used in hyperthyroidism and why?
Propranolol- to reduce sympathetic NS stim and inhibits DIO1
How do antithyroid drugs work?
Block TPO preventing thyroid uptake (?)
What is a rare but dangerous side effect of antithyroid drugs?
Agranulocytosis- 0.5% of patients. Neutrophils stop being produced. Highest risk in first 6 weeks therefore warn patients verbally and in writing to stop and have FBC if have fever, oral ulcer or throat infection.
What are the two methods for treating Grave’s disease?
Dose titration
Block and replace
What is dose titration?
12-18 months normal hyperthyroidism treatment
What is block and replace?
6 months intensive hyperthyroid treatment then replace with levothyroxine
What should you do if primary treatment of Grave’s disease fails?
Surgery or radioiodine
When is radioiodine used?
Relapsed Grave’s or nodular disease
When should you not use radioiodine?
Pregnancy or thyroid eye disease
What is a drawback of radioiodine?
Can cause hypothyroidism
When should you do a thyroidectomy?
When radioiodine is contraindicated.
What are potential complications of thyroidectomy?
Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands
How do you treat thyroiditis?
Self limiting therefore will resolve with time
What are some causes of thyroiditis?
Subacute/de Quervain’s thyroiditis
Post-partum thyroiditis
Drug induced- amiodarone
Subacute thyroiditis
How does amiodarone cause thyroiditis?
Inhibits DOI1 therefore get increase in T4 and decrease in T3 but normal TSH.
How can subacute thyroiditis present?
May be triggered by viral infection
Neck tenderness, fever etc
How do you distinguish a thyroglossal cyst?
Stick tongue out and it moves
Describe the goiter seen in Grave’s disease?
Smooth and regular
How does a Graves goiter present on scanning?
Completely black
Describe a toxic multinodular goiter?
Irregular
What effect can a hyperthyroid nodule have on the rest of the thyroid gland?
Cause hypothyroidism
What is a side effect of radioiodine?
Can get brief surge of hyperthyroidism
Neck pain
2kg weight gain
How do you treat Grave’s disease?
Radioiodine
Antithyroid drugs
Avoid surgery
WHat is the Wolff-Chaikoff effect?
The ability of high dose iodine (KI) to block T4 production in the short term. Only lasts 10-14 days
What is the only thyroid disease you tend to get eye involvement with?
Grave’s
What does a low TSH by itself suggest?
Thyrotoxicosis
Can a lymphoma affect the thyroid?
Yes but rarely
What physical sign is important to ask about when examining a thyroid lump?
Voice changes
What are some potential side effects of Carbimazole?
Minor rash
Agranulocytosis
What are some side effects of PTU?
Liver failure
Agranulocytosis
What should a patient be warned about when taking antithyroid drugs?
Agranulocytosis- if ill stop immediately and get FBC
What is a potential problem with thyroxine?
Can have cardio effects therefore if have HD give low dose and work up
What is a differential for thyroid swelling?
Enlarged lymph nodes- tend to be more laterally though