Thyroid/Parathyroid

Question 1

The thyroid is part of what body system? What does it do

Answer 1

endocrine. it maintains metabolism, growth, and development by secreting hormones

Question 2

What do Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine do?

Answer 2

stimilate cell metabolism so the body can break down food and convert it to energy

Question 3

What does Calcitonin do

Answer 3

regulates blood calcium

Question 4

What glands regulate thyroid function

Answer 4

pituitary and hypothalamus

Question 5

What is a pyramidal lobe?

Answer 5

It arises from the isthmus and runs superiorly in 15% of patients

Question 6

What are follicular cells?

Answer 6

main cells of the thyroid that secrete triiodothyronine and thyroxine

Question 7

Why does the thyroid require iodine?

Answer 7

to produce the correct amount of thyroid hormones

Question 8

What hormone do parafollicular cells secrete?

Answer 8

calcitonin

Question 9

Which thyroid lobe is larger, right or left?

Answer 9

they should be equal in size

Question 10

which patient demographic has a slightly larger thyroid, female or male?

Answer 10

females

Question 11

What is the smallest portion of the thyroid? What size should it be?

Answer 11

the isthmus should measure 4-6mm AP.

Question 12

What is Goiter

Answer 12

Enlargement of the thyroid

Question 13

What is Nodular Goiter

Answer 13

Localized enlargement

Question 14

What is Multi-Nodule Goiter (MNG)

Answer 14

Multiple thyroid nodules

Question 15

Where is the esophagus in relation to the thyroid

Answer 15

typically to the left

Question 16

What does euthyroid mean?

Answer 16

the thyroid is producing correct and normal amount of thyroid hormone

Question 17

What is hypothyroidism

Answer 17

undersecretion of thyroid hormones

Question 18

What is the most common thyroid disorder

Answer 18

hypothyroidism

Question 19

What are causes of hypothyroidism

Answer 19

75% is caused by hashimoto’s thyroiditis. might also be caused by low iodine, problem with pituitary gland

Question 20

What is hyperthyroidism

Answer 20

oversecretion of thyroid hormones and increase in metabolic rate

Question 21

What might cause hyperthyroidysm?

Answer 21

when a neoplasm causes overproduction of thyroid hormones

Question 22

What is the most common lab test to evaluate thyroid function?

Answer 22

serum thyroxine (T4) measures the amount of T4 in the blood

Question 23

What imaging modiality is used to determine thyroid function

Answer 23

nuclear medicine

Question 24

Where is the parathyroid located?

Answer 24

the posterior medial surface of the thyroid gland

Question 25

How many parathyroid glands are there? Where are they located

Answer 25

4 (maybe more or less) two posterior to the superior poles and two posterior to the inferior pole.

Question 26

How does a parathyroid gland appear?

Answer 26

Similar to the thyroid, disc shaped, not seen with sonography unless enlarged >5 mm

Question 27

What happens when serum calcium levels decrease

Answer 27

parathyroid glands are stimulated to release parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Question 28

What happens when serum calcium levels increase

Answer 28

parathyroid activity decreases

Question 29

What commonly detects unexplained hypercalcemia

Answer 29

routine blood chemistry

Question 30

nodular hyperplasia, multinodular goiter, adenomatous hyperplasia are other terms for what?

Answer 30

goiter

Question 31

what is the most common thyroid abnormality and what causes it

Answer 31

goiter. caused by iodine deficiency

Question 32

what are some causes of Goiter?

Answer 32

Graves' disease, thyroiditis, neoplasm, cyst

Question 33

What is toxic goiter

Answer 33

hyperthyroid condition resulting from hyperactivity of thyroid

Question 34

what is non-toxic goiter

Answer 34

diffuse thyroid enlargement not associated with hypothyroidism

Question 35

how does a thyroid nodule change over time?

Answer 35

they are normally isoechoic -> enlarges and becomes hyperechoic -> scarring with necrosis/ cysts -> fibrosis and calcifications

Question 36

How does a colloid cyst appear

Answer 36

cyst with echogenic focus that might demonstrate comet tail artifact

Question 37

How does a hemorrhagic cyst appear?

Answer 37

low-level echoes with possible fluid and debris. possibly irregular wall or septations

Question 38

What type of neoplasm is characterized by a complete fiberous encapsulation and compression of adjacent tissue

Answer 38

adenoma

Question 39

Why would adenoma have a hyperechoic halo

Answer 39

Its edema of compressed thyroid tissue.

Question 40

What is present in 50-80% of thyroid carcinoma

Answer 40

calcifications

Question 41

What is the most common thyroid malignancy and where does it spread to

Answer 41

papillary carcinoma, cervical lymph nodes

Question 42

How does minimally invasive follicular carcinoma appear

Answer 42

well encapsulated. focal invasion of blood vessels differentiates from adenoma

Question 43

How does widely invasive follicular carcinoma appear

Answer 43

not encapsulated, irregular margins, thick halo, nodular enlargement and tortuous blood vessels

Question 44

Medullary carcinoma is often bilateral and familial and highly metastatic to where

Answer 44

lymph nodes

Question 45

Anaplastic carcinoma often occurs after the age of 50. how does it appear?

Answer 45

as a hard, rapidly growing, hypoechoic mass invading the muscle/vessels of the neck

Question 46

What is more common in the thyroid: Hodgekin or non-Hodgekin lymphoma

Answer 46

non-Hodgekin in the thyroid

Question 47

What is subacute (de Quervain's thyroiditis)

Answer 47

caused by infection, gradual onset,

Question 48

What is the most common form of thyroiditis? What is this disorder?

Answer 48

Hashimoto's: an autoimmune disorder with inflammation that is most common in younger women

Question 49

What is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and who does it affect most frequently

Answer 49

Grave's diseaes. women over 30.

Question 50

What disease is associated with hyperthyroidism and diffuse goiter

Answer 50

Grave's disease

Question 51

How might grave's disease appear?

Answer 51

homogeneous and enlarged, increased vascularity

Question 52

Primary hyperthyroidism is increased parathyroid function. Who does this most commonly affect?

Answer 52

It is 3x more common in women (especially after menopause)

Question 53

What casues primary hyperparathyroidism? What are symptoms

Answer 53

it is asymptomatic and comes from increased secretion of PTH

Question 54

What is parathyroid hyperplasia?

Answer 54

hyperfunction of ALL parathyroid glands with no specific cause.

Question 55

what is the most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism? How do they appear

Answer 55

ovular shaped adenomas. may app

Question 56

What must be present to determine between adenoma and carcinoma?

Answer 56

mets to nodes or other organs, invasion, or recurrence must occur to determine malignancy

Question 57

What is hypocalcemia caused by

Answer 57

renal failure, vitamin D deficiency, intestinal malabsorption syndromes

Question 58

what causes secondary hperparathyroidism

Answer 58

abnormalities that stimulate PTH secretion

Question 59

what are thyroglossal duct cysts

Answer 59

congenital abnormalities appearing ovular in the midline of the neck and anterior to the trachea.

Question 60

What are branchial cleft cysts

Answer 60

cystic formations located lateral to the thyroid gland.

Question 61

Are rounded lymph nodes usually benign or malignant?

Answer 61

Round lymph nodes, especially without hilum, are usually malignant