pituitary gland - basics
pea-sized gland in brain
- below optic chiasm
Anterior lobe:
Posterior lobe:
- secretes vasopressin / ADH and oxytocin
HPA axis: hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis
- negative feedback loop
neoplastic disease (adenoma) of pituitary - sxs
benign growth in pituitary gland
- adenoma is most common
s/sx (general):
- HA, bitemporal hemianopsia/visual field defect, CN III
Presenting sxs relate to cell type of adenoma
neoplastic disease (adenoma) of pituitary - s/sx
acromegaly/gigantism
due to excess growth hormone
s/sx:
pituitary adenoma - dx (for each type)
MRI: image pituitary
Labs: depend on type of adenoma
Prolactinoma: high prolactin so eval testosterone (M) and estradiol, FSH, LH (F)
GH excess (somatotroph): serum IGF high, NO suppression of GH w/ glucose tolerance test - eval TSH, T4, glucose
ACTH (corticotroph): elevated 24 hr cortisol
pituitary adenoma - tx (for each type)
hypopituitarism - definition, causes
not enough secretion from pituitary
can original from hypothalamus with releasing hormones or pituitary
causes:
hypopituitarism - s/sx
depend on which hormone(s) are deficient:
dwarfism - definition, clinical features, dx, tx
GH deficiency during childhood
Dx:
Tx:
- synthetic GH injections
vasopressin/ADH and hypothalamus
hypothalamus sensitive to osmolality
diabetes insipidus - definition, s/sx, 2 forms, tx
defect or deficiency in vasopressin (aka ADH)
s/sx:
2 forms:
hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis
hypothalamus: release TRH –>
anterior pituitary: release TSH –>
thyroid gland: release T3 and T4
thyroid gland hormones
thyroxine (T4): 91%
- only produced in thyroid gland
Triiodothyronine (T3): 7%
NOTE: iodine required for production of thyroid hormones
hyperthyroidism - definition, causes, s/sx, dx
too much thyroid hormone (aka thyrotoxicosis)
causes:
s/sx: high metabolism
Grave’s disease - definition, sxs, dx, tx
autoimmune dz where antibodies bind to and activate TSH receptor, mincing effects of TSH
s/sx
Dx:
Tx:
thyroid storm - definition, causes, s/sx, dx
very high level of thyroid hormones
- rare complication w/ high mortality
causes: serious illness, thyroid surgery, infection, radio-active iodine admin
clinical: tachycardia, delirium, high fever, V/D, dehydration
tx:
- beta blocker
- PTU
- iodide
- glucocorticoids
hypothyroidism - definition, causes
low thyroid hormones
causes:
hypothyroidism - s/sx, dx
s/sx: slow metabolism
Dx: Primary hypothyroidism: - serum TSH high - Serum T4/T3 low Subclinical hypothyroidism: - serum TSH high - Serum T4/T3 normal
hypothyroidism - tx
daily levothyroxine (synthetic T4)
monitor with TSH levels
myxedema coma
VERY low T4 and T3 levels
thyroid cancer - s/sx, dx, tx
papillary is most common and least aggressive (slow-growing)
thyroid lymphoma in Hoshimotos
s/sx:
Note: not all nodules are cancerous
Dx:
thyroiditis - definiton, causes
inflammation of thyroid
Causes:
thyroiditis - sxs, dx, and tx (for each cause)
Clinical:
Dx:
Note: fine-needle aspiration is rapid growth, painful nodule
Tx:
parathyroid - location and role
located in posterior poles of thyroid gland
- 4 glands
Role:
Feedback on parathyroid glands: