Difference between revisions of "Parathyroid Glands - Pathology"

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#REDIRECT[[:Category:Parathyroid Glands - Pathology]]
 
 
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==Anatomy and Physiology==
 
Anatomy and Physiology of the Parathyroid glands can be found [[Parathyroid Glands - Anatomy & Physiology|here]].
 
==Hypercalcaemia==
 
* Hypercalcaemia should not be ignored in an unwell animal.
 
** The consequences of hypercalcaemia may be serious: prolonged untreated hypercalcaemia can lead to irreversible damage to many organs, particularly the kidneys.
 
** There are multiple causes of hypercalcaemia, but if it is caught early a specific diagnosis and treatment are often possible.
 
* The clinical signs of hypercalcaemia are often vague.
 
** Signs commonly include:
 
*** PU/PD
 
*** Anorexia
 
*** Dehydration
 
*** Weakness or lethargy
 
*** [[Control of Feeding - Anatomy & Physiology#The Vomit Reflex|Vomiting]]
 
*** Prerenal azotaemia
 
** More uncommonly, hypercalcaemia may present with:
 
*** Constipation
 
*** Cardiac arrhythmia
 
*** Seizures or twitching
 
*** [[Kidney Renal Failure - Pathology#Acute|Acute renal failure]]
 
*** Death
 
* Causes of hypercalcaemia may be:
 
*# Nonpathologic
 
*#* This may be due to:
 
*#** Age - young animals have naturally higher calcium levels.
 
*#** Lab error
 
*#** Lipaemia
 
*#* It is important to establish whether hypercalcaemia is true before persuing further diagnosis and treatment.
 
*# Transient...
 
*#* ...hypoadrenocorticism
 
*#* ...haemoconcentration
 
*#* ...hyperproteinaemia
 
*# Pathological
 
*#* Malignancy
 
*#* Lymphoma
 
*#* [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Apocrine Gland Adenocarcinoma|Anal sac adenocarcinoma]]
 
*#* [[Kidney Renal Failure - Pathology|Renal failure]]
 
*#* [[Bones Metabolic - Pathology#Hypervitaminosis D|Hypervitaminosis D]]
 
*#* Granulomatous disease
 
*#** E.g fungal infections
 
*#* [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Primary|Primary hyperparathyroidism]]
 
*#* Skeletal lesions
 
==Hypocalcaemia==
 
* Hypocalcaemia is a relatively common finding in
 
** Small animals
 
*** Most often associated with decreased albumin concentrations.
 
*** Usually clinically insignificant.
 
** Farm animals
 
*** For example, dairy cows following parturition.
 
**** More clinically significant.
 
* Clinical signs may not always be present (i.e. clinically insignificant).
 
** Clinical signs are most often seen in associated with lactation or post-operative causes.
 
** When they seen, signs commonly include:
 
*** Facial rubbing
 
*** Muscle tremors or cramps
 
*** Stiff gait
 
*** Behavioural changes
 
** The following are seen less commonly:
 
*** Panting
 
*** Pyrexia
 
*** Lethargy
 
*** Anorexia
 
*** Tachycardia or ECG abnormalities
 
*** Hypotension
 
*** Death
 
* Some causes of hypocalcaemia are also more common than others.
 
** Common causes are:
 
*** Chronic renal failure
 
*** Hypoalbuminaemia
 
*** Eclampsia
 
*** Acute pancreatitis
 
*** Iatrogenic
 
*** Post thyroidectomy
 
*** Post parathyroidectomy
 
*** Blood transfusion
 
** More uncommonly:
 
*** Lab error
 
*** Ethylene glycol toxicity
 
*** NaHCO<sub>3</sub> administration
 
*** Hypovitaminosis D
 
*** Hypomagnesaemia
 
*** Intestinal malabsorption
 
*** Primary hypoparathyroidism
 
==Hyperparathyroidism==
 
[[Image:parathyroidadeoma.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Parathyroid adenoma. Image courtesy of Biomed Archive.]]
 
===Primary===
 
* Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by glandular hyperplasia or neoplasia. [[Image:parathyroidhyperplasia.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Parathyroid hyperplasia. Image courtesy of Biomed Archive.]]
 
* Rare.
 
===Secondary===
 
* Secondary hyperparathyroidism causes [[Bones Metabolic - Pathology#Hyperparathyroidism|fibrous osteodystrophy or "rubber jaw"]].
 
* In secondary hyperparathyroidism, the gland is overactive due to another condition coexisting in the body, rather than a primary parathyroid gland defect.
 
* There are two common forms of secondary hyperparathyroisism:
 
*# [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism|'''Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism''']]
 
*#* This includes [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Metabolic Bone Disease|Metabolic Bone Disease]].
 
*# [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Renal Hyperparathyroidism|'''Renal Hyperparathyroidism''']]
 
* Both forms result in increased osteoclastic resorption of bone and deposition of fibro-osteoid matrix that fails to mineralise. 
 
** Flat bones of the skull swell.
 
** Fibrous tissue is seen around the tooth roots.
 
** Bone softens in adult animals.
 
*** This is what gives rise to the term "rubber jaw".
 
***  Long bones become soft with thin cortices.
 
**** These fracture easily.
 
====Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism====
 
[[Image:secondaryhyperparathyroidism.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Secondary hyperparathyroidism - "rubber jaw". Image courtesy of Biomed Archive.]]
 
* Nutritional hyperparathyroidism is also known as nutritional osteodystrophy.
 
* This occurs  most commonly in:
 
** Young, fast-growing animals
 
** Animals with a poor diet, for example:
 
*** Swine fed unsupplemented cereal grain
 
*** Dogs and cats fed all-meat diets
 
*** Horses fed bran
 
**** In this case, nutritional hyperparathyroidism is known as "bran disease".
 
=====Pathogenesis=====
 
* Pathogenesis follows low calcium/high phosphate diets.
 
** These lead to decreased serum calcium levels, stimulating [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Hormonal Control|PTH]] release.
 
** The increase in PTH gives an increase in bone resorption, causing pathology.
 
=====Pathology=====
 
* '''Gross'''
 
** Severe cases may show:
 
*** Maxillary and mandibular swelling
 
*** [[:Category:Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|Teeth]] lost or buried in soft tissue
 
*** Nasal and frontal bone enlargement, leading to dyspnoea
 
*** Long bone fracture
 
*** Detatchment tendons and ligaments
 
** Early or less severe cases are characterised by shifting lameness and ill thrift.
 
* '''Histological'''
 
** Osteoclastic resorption
 
** Fibrous replacement
 
=====Metabolic Bone Disease=====
 
* Metabolic bone disease affects lizards in captivity, particularly young green iguanas
 
* The condition is caused by:
 
** Dietary deficiency of calcium and vitamin D
 
*** For example, due to poor lighting (which diminishes viatmin D production).
 
** Dietary excess of phosphorus
 
** Certain toxicities
 
** Diseases of the kidneys, [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] or parathyroid
 
*** This aetiology is rare
 
* Clinical signs include:
 
** Lethargy
 
** Inability to support weight
 
** Rounded skull
 
** Spontaneous fractures
 
** Adult animals also show signs of [[Parathyroid Glands - Pathology#Hypocalcaemia|hypocalcaemia]]
 
* The skeleton shows reduced density on radiography.
 
====Renal Hyperparathyroidism====
 
* Renal Hyerparathyroidism is mostly seen in the dog as an expression of chronic renal disease.
 
=====Pathogenesis=====
 
[[Image:renalhyperparathyroidism.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Parathyroid hyperplasia in renal hyperparathyroidism. Image courtesy of Biomed Archive.]]
 
# Chronic renal disease results in reduced glomerular filtration.
 
# As glomerular filtration is reduced, phosphate is retained. Chronic renal failure also causes inadequate vitamin D production in the kidneys.
 
# Hyperphosphataemia develops due to phosphate retention.
 
#* Hypocalcaemia also occurs, as high levels of phosphate depress calcium levels.
 
# PTH is released in an attempt to maintain the correct blood calcium:phosphorous ratio. This can have several effects:
 
#* Parathyroid hyperplasia
 
#** I.e. '''renal secondary hyperparathyroidism'''.
 
#* Soft tissue mineralisation
 
#** Particularly seen in dogs
 
#** Calcium is commonly deposited in the subpleural connective tissue of the intercostal spaces.
 
#** Calcification also occurs in other sites, e.g. [[Monogastric Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|stomach]] wall, lungs, kidneys.
 
#* Increased bone resorption
 
#** This causes fibrous osteodystrophy, or "rubber jaw".
 
=====Pathology=====
 
[[Image:Renal_osteodystrophy.jpg|thumb|right|100px|"Rubber jaw" in renal osteodystrophy. Image courtesy of Biomed Archive.]]
 
* Pathology seen in renal hyperparathyroidism is very similar to that seen in nutritional hyperparathyroidism.
 
* '''Gross'''
 
** The major gross presentation is a fibrous osetodystrophy, or rubber jaw.
 
*** The maxillae and mandible appear swollen.
 
*** Radiographically, bone shows reduced density, and [[:Category:Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|teeth]] hence appear embedded in soft tissue.
 
*** However, only a few cases of chronic renal disease show such severe bone lesions.
 
** Other lesions may also be seen.
 
*** Intercostal muscles may be calcified.
 
*** Bone marrow lesions may cause anaemia.
 
*** The lung may show oedema, and have calcified alveolar walls.
 
* '''Histological'''
 
** Osteoclastic resorption
 
** Fibrous replacement
 
==Pseudo-Hyperparathyroidism==
 
* Non-endocrine tumours may be capable of secreting hormones, or hormone-like factors.
 
** A parathormone-like substance may be secreted in such a manner.
 
===Apocrine Gland Adenocarcinoma===
 
* Malignant tumours of the anal sac apocrine glands can produce PTH-related peptide (PTHrp).
 
** This induces a pseudo-hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcaemia.
 
===[[Lymph Nodes - Pathology#Neoplasia|Lymphosarcoma]]===
 
* 10 to 40% of cases in dogs may cause a pseudo-hyperparathyroidism.
 
===Other Carcinomas===
 
Some other carcinomas may also be capable of causing pseudo-hyperparathyroidism.
 
==Hypoparathyroidism==
 
* Hypoparathyroidism may result from primary gland hypofunction.
 
** Gland hypofunction occurs due to:
 
**# Destruction of secretory cells by a disease process.
 
**#* For example, this may be immune mediated, or another inflammatory cause.
 
**# A biochemical defect in synthetic pathway of the hormone.
 
**#* These are usually genetic aberrations.
 
**#* Defects in synthesis are not commonly identified in the veterinary species.
 

Latest revision as of 14:06, 21 February 2011