Upper part of the gland to upper deep cervical nodes via the prelaryngeal, pretracheal & paratracheal
nodes.
Lower part to lower deep cervical nodes. The lymphatic's form a plexus & lymph can drain in any
direction.
Nerve supply
Supplied by superior, middle & inferior cervical sympathetic ganglia.
Fibers: Vasomotor & not secreto-motor
Histology of the thyroid gland
Hyperthyroidism vs Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
What is it?
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, happens when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid
hormone. This has an impact throughout the body.
Causes
Graves' Disease
Functioning adenoma and toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG
Excessive intake of thyroid hormones
Abnormal secretion of TSH
Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
Excessive iodine intake
Risk factors
Females
Being older than age 60
Exposure to radiation in the neck
Prior thyroid surgery
Having a family history of thyroid disease
Having a family history of autoimmune disease
Having an autoimmune disease
Being of Caucasian or Asian ethnicity
Experiencing hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause
Personal history of lithium use
Having chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome or Turner's syndrome
Sign & symptoms
Anxiety \irritability
Fine tremors
Increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin
Weight loss
Goiter
Change in menstrual cycles
Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido
Frequent bowel movements
Graves' ophthalmopathy
Fatigue
Graves' dermopathy
Palpitations
Epidemiology
Westernization and nutrition transition in Arab world have increased the burden of
adenocarcinomas, including thyroid cancer
The review showed that the prevalence of different types of thyroid disease varied between the
reported studies in Arab world ranging from 6.18 to 47.34% prevalence of goiter reported by several
studies conducted in Arab world, such as Egypt, Algeria and Bahrain with 25.25, 86 and 1.7%,
respectively
Treatment
Pharmacological
Thionamides
General Pharmacokinetics:
Rapidly absorbed orally.
Half life 1-6 hours.
Metabolized by the liver
Excreted in the urine
Both cross the placenta and
appear in breast milk
Methimazole
Propylthiouracil
Comparision
Dosing
Usual starting dose – Carbimazole(derivative of methimazole) 30 – 60 mg a day or propylthiouracil
50-100 mg/day
The dose and frequency should be reduced after 4-6 weeks
Usual maintenance dose of carbimazole is 2.5 – 15 mg/day.
Side effects
Agrancylocytosis
The patient have to stop the medications
if he developed fever –sore thorat –mouth
ulcers
Vasculitis –hepatitis-lupus like syndrome
B-Blockers
Propanolol
Mechanism of action
reduce the cardiac manifestations
help in relaxing the patient (sedation).
the only BB that can inhibit deiodinase enzyme
Surgical
Thyroidectomy
What is it?
Removal of all or part of your thyroid gland.
Used to treat thyroid disorders, such as cancer, noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) and
overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Indications
Thyroid cancer
Goiter
Hyperthyroidism
Contraindications
Uncontrolled severe hyperthyroidism (ie, Graves disease) --> intraoperative or postoperative thyroid
storm.
Long term effect
Partial thyroidectomy
The remaining portion typically takes over the function of the entire thyroid gland, and you might not
need thyroid hormone therapy.
Complete thyroidectomy
Without replacement you'll develop signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). As
a result, you'll need to take a pill every day that contains the synthetic thyroid hormone
levothyroxine.
Prognosis
Good with appropriate treatment.
Patient should be screened & treated for osteoporosis & atherosclerotic risk factors
Increased risk of obesity & insulin resistance Previously treated for hyperthyroidism
Types
Diffuse toxic goiters- Graves disease
Pathophysiology
What is it?
Autoimmune disorder
An immunoglobulin called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobin (TSI) found in the blood of all patients;
TSI binds to the TSH receptor and induce TSH-like effects; TSI effects persist longer than TSH (up to 12
hrs vs. 1 hr respectively) Plasma level of TSH is suppressed due to the high level of thyroid hormones