Thyroid Pathology (Unit 2B) + TIRADS (Unit 4) Flashcards
What are examples of diffuse pathology of the thyroid gland? (3)
Inflammatory/infectious
Thyroditis
Autoimmune
What are examples over focal pathology of the thyroid gland? (6)
Nodules (single/multiple)
Hyperplasia
Adenoma
Carcinoma
Lymphoma
Mets
What is Euthyroid?
Normal functioning thyroid gland
What is Thyrotoxicosis/Hyperthyroidism caused by?
Elevated levels of free T3 and T4 = causes a hypermetabolic state
What is the difference between Primary Hyperthyroidism and Secondary Hypterthyrodism?
Primary - excess thyroid hormone is synthesized and secretes by the thyroid gland
Secondary - caused by outside source
What is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism?
Graves Disease (autoimmune disease)
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis?
- Hyperthyroidism
- Diffuse thyroid enlargement (goiter)
- Ophthalmopathy (protrusion of the eyes)
- Graves dermopathy (pretibial myxedema)
What are the clinical manifestations of Hyperthyroidism?
- Weight Loss (unintentional, severe)
- Excessive sweating
- Heat intolerance
- Ophthalmopathy (bulging eyes)
- Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
- Tachycardia at rest
- Mood changes
- Dyspnea
- Nervousness
- Hand Tremors/Muscular weakness
- Menstrual irregularities (Oligomenorrhea or
amenorrhea)
What is a Thyroid Storm?
Increased HR, BP, and body temperature all to extreme degrees
What are the symptoms of children who have hyperthyroidism?
- accelerated growth spurts and advanced bone age
- emotional lability
- hyperactivity
- difficulty concentrating
- occasionally failure to thrive
What is the sonographic appearance of Hyperthyroidism/Grave’s Disease?
- normal or enlarged
- heterogenous (when enlarged)
- hypervascularity
- peak velocities exceeding 70 cm/sec)
- diffuse enlargement of isthmus >1cm
What are 5 symptoms of Thyroiditis?
- Dysphagia
- Pain radiating to ear
- Thyroid gland visibly enlarged on one side
- Tender pretracheal lymph nodes
- Thyroid gland = tender, palpable
What is the presentation for acute Thyroiditis?
Low grade fever & sore neck
What is subacute thyroiditis also called?
De Quervain Disease or Granulomatous Thyroiditis
What is the clinical presentation of Subacute Thyroiditis?
- Hx of recent viral infection
- Neck pain which can radiate to upper jaw, throat or ears. Associated with other
symptoms of inflammation (fever, tenderness, fatigue, etc) - Unilateral or bilateral enlargement of gland
- Usually temporary, resolves in 2-6 weeks with spontaneous recovery of thyroid function
in 6-8 weeks - Good recovery, may have some residual fibrosis
What does Subacute Thyroiditis look like on US?
- Enlargement
- Hypoechoic
- Normal or decreased vascularity
- Nodularity
What is the most common thyroid function disorder?
Hypothyroidism
What is secondary (central) hypothyroidism?
- Pituitary or hypothalamus failing to stimulate normal thyroid function
What is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism?
chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (aka Hashimoto thyroiditis)
Describe the clinical relevance of Primary Hypothyroidism.
- Peak incidence: 45 and 65 years of age
- Females > Males
- Associated with genetic predisposition, high iodine intake, selenium deficiency,
smoking, and chronic hepatitis C - Associated with other autoimmune disease (Sjögren syndrome, lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis) - Diagnosed clinically with blood work
What are the key clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism?
- weakness/fatigue
- dry skin
- cold intolerance
- hoarseness
- weight gain
- constipation
- menstrual irregularities
- decreased sweating
Hasimoto’s Thyroiditis can appear like which other Thyroid issue in US?
Graves disease
- abnormal echotexture
- often hypervascular
Describe the appearance of the 3 stages of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Early: increased size, coarse echotexture, hypo to normal echogenicity
Late: fibrotic strands cause lobulations
Even later: Multinodular, heterogenous, with multiple small hypoechoic nodules throughout, can appear ill defined and atrophic
What is a common measurement of the isthmus to suggest a goiter?
Greater than 1cm
What are the symptoms associated with goiters? DIVH
- Dysphagia
- Inspiratory stridor
- Venous congestion
- Hoarseness
An endemic non toxic goiter is due to an iodine deficiency in food/water/soil in a given area - what happens to the thyroid?
Hypothyroid (decrease in iodine, decrease in T3/4, INCREASE in TSH)
Toxic goiters are typically what and induce what?
Multinodular, can induce hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, graves disease
Multi-lobulated goiters are enlarged in which way? Symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Asymmetrical
What is a plunging goiter?
When one or both lobes extend below the clavicle or sternum
What is the sonographic appearance of a multinodular goiters?
- Heterogeneous
- Lobulated, multinodular
- Possible calcifications
In multinodular goiters what is it important to look for?
Important to look for other discrete nodules within the goiter as neoplasms and cancers can exist within a goiter
What commonly happens to the thyroid and pregnancy?
Enlarges due to reduction in plasma idoine
What is the most common thyroid condition after abortion/miscarriage/delivery?
Postpartum Thyroiditis (PPT)
What is the clinical presentation and sonographic appearance of postpartum thyroiditis?
- Classic presentation: thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism
- Sono appearance: ↓ echogenicity, diffuse enlargement of thyroid (non specific)
What causes the majority of nodular diseases in the thyroid?
Hyperplasia
A nontoxic goiter is typically: euthyroid, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid?
Euthyroid
Hyperplasia in thyroids occur due to?
Iodine deficiency or under utilization
What is the most common sonographic appearance of hyplerplasia?
Isoechoic
Can also have: peripheral halo, cystic degeneration, perinodular vascularity
What is the treatment for benign thyroid cysts?
Percutaneous ethanol injection