Thyroid and Parathyroid Flashcards
What is unique about the thyroid blood supply of the cat?
In most cats, the caudal thyroid artery is absent
Into what structures does the lymph of the thyroids drain?
- Right: Right lymphatic duct
- Left: Tracheal duct
Where is ectopic thyrpid tissue commonly found?
- Along the trachea
- Thoracic inlet
- Within mediastinum
- Thoracic portion of the descending aorta
How are thyroid hormones produced?
- Thyroglobin produced within the thyroid and stored within the thyroid follicle (Sufficient iodine is necessary for production of thyroglobin)
- Thyroglobin moves into follicular cells and is hydrolysed into thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which are released into the blood
What % of T3 and T4 circulate unbound to protein?
Less than 1%
Which thyroid hormone is more biologically active?
T3
Approx 40-60% of T3 is derived from monodeiodination of T4 in peripheral tissues
What substances regulate thyroid hormone synthesis?
- Thyrotropin (TSH) from the pituitary gland
- Thyrotropic-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus. Modulates thyroid hormone-TSH feedback loop
Where is PTH made?
PTH is synthesised, stored and secreted by chief cells of the parathyroid gland
What are the main effects of PTH?
- Increase Ca conc
- Decrease phosphorus conc
- Bone: Ca and phosphate reabsorption
- Kidneys: Rapid decrease in excretion of Ca and increase in excretion of phosphorus. Increased formation of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) from Vit D
- Intestines: Calcitriol increases absorption of Ca and phosphorus
Other than PTH, what other hormone is involved with Ca homeostasis? How does it work?
- Calcitonin (produced by thyroid glanf parafollicular cells, aka C-cells)
- Prevent postprandial hyperCa by decreasing bone resorption but has no effect at level of kidneys or intestines
What % of hyperthyroidism in cats is caused by carcinoma?
1-4%, mets in up to 74%
(Usually adenomatous hyperplasia)
How common is bilateral involvement of hyperthyroididm in cats?
How common is ectopic thyroid seen?
- Bilateral in approx 70%
- Ectopic hyperfunctioning tissue in 9-23%, most commonly in the chest
List concurrent diseases often seen with hyperthyroidism in cats
- Cardiac disease (Tachycardia, murmurs, gallop, HCM, sometimes hypertension)
- Renal insufficency in up to 40%. Trial course of methimazole recommended prior to any irreversible treatments
- Hypokalaemis in 32%
What imaging method is most useful for diagnosis and anatomical localisation of hyperfunctioning thyroid tissue?
Scintigraphy
- Technetium 99m - pertechnetate (99mTcO4)
- Trapped by thyroidal iodine-concentrating mechanisms
- Does not reflect function
- Pertechnetate normally concentrates in thryoid, salivary and gastric mucosa
What is the main goal of pre-op treatment of hyperthyroid cats?
- Methimazole of propylthiouracil until reached a euthyroid state (6-12wks pre-op)
- If azotaemia occurs, lifelong methimazole recommended, no irreversible treatments
What muscles must be seperated on the approach to the thyroid?
- Sternohyoid
- Sternothyroid
List the surgical options of thyroidectomy
- Intracapsular (high recurrence)
- Extracapsular (no attempt to save parathyroid)
- Modified intracapsule
- Modified extracapsular