TH and PTH Disorders Unit 4

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering pathophysiology, assessment, clinical manifestations, complications, and medical-surgical nursing management of thyroid and parathyroid disorders from Chapter 43.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

The most common type of hypothyroidism, characterized by decreased thyroid gland function and an overall decreased metabolic rate.

Primary hypothyroidism

A form of hypothyroidism resulting from dysfunction or disease occurring directly within the thyroid gland itself.

Secondary hypothyroidism

A form of hypothyroidism caused by a disorder of the anterior pituitary gland, typically accompanied by low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Tertiary hypothyroidism

A form of hypothyroidism that occurs secondary to a structural or functional disorder of the hypothalamus.

Goiter

An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can present in both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states.

Myxedema

A severe presentation of hypothyroidism characterized by generalized non-pitting edema, facial puffiness, periorbital edema, thinning lateral eyebrows, dry coarse skin due to absent sweating, and brittle hair.

Myxedema coma

A life-threatening complication of severe hypothyroidism marked by hypoxia, $CO_2$ retention, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, severe hypothermia, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremia.

Levothyroxine

A synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medication prescribed for hypothyroidism that must be administered consistently at the same time each day.

Graves’ disease

The most common underlying cause of hyperthyroidism, resulting in hypersecretion of thyroid hormone and an accelerated metabolic state.

Exophthalmos

Abnormal protrusion or bulging of the eyes, characteristic of hyperthyroidism associated with Graves’ disease.

Thyroid bruit

An abnormal auscultatory sound heard over the thyroid gland that indicates hypermetabolism and substantially increased blood flow in hyperthyroidism.

Propylthiouracil

An antithyroid medication used in the clinical management of hyperthyroidism to suppress the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Radioiodine ($\text{I-131}$) therapy

A radiologic medical treatment for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer requiring private room isolation, dosimeter badge monitoring, limiting direct care to $30\,\text{minutes}$ per $8\,\text{hour}$ shift, staff rotation, and exclusion of pregnant staff.

Thyroid storm (Thyrotoxicosis)

An acute, severe, life-threatening complication of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism characterized by extreme hypermetabolism.

Subtotal thyroidectomy

The surgical resection and removal of a significant portion of the thyroid gland while preserving a small remnant.

Total thyroidectomy

The complete surgical excision and removal of the entire thyroid gland, necessitating lifelong hormone replacement.

Thyroid cancer

The most prevalent endocrine cancer, occurring $3\,\text{times}$ more often in women (predominantly aged 40 to 50), with prior radiation exposure to the neck serving as a primary risk factor and surgery as the main treatment.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

A regulatory hormone synthesized and secreted by the parathyroid glands in response to low serum calcium that triggers calcium release from bone, decreases calcium loss in urine, activates vitamin D, and increases intestinal calcium absorption.

Hypoparathyroidism

A condition characterized by insufficient secretion of parathyroid hormone leading to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, most commonly caused by inadvertent resection of the parathyroids during thyroid or cancer surgery.

Tetany

A state of acute neuromuscular excitability manifested by severe painful muscle cramps, carpopedal spasms, and paresthesias caused by low ionized calcium levels.

Chvostek sign

A clinical indicator of hypocalcemia elicited by tapping the facial nerve anterior to the earlobe, resulting in unilateral twitching or spasm of the facial muscles.

Trousseau sign

A clinical sign of latent tetany and hypocalcemia in which carpal spasm is provoked by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic blood pressure on the upper arm.

Hyperparathyroidism

An endocrine disorder marked by excess circulating parathyroid hormone and hypercalcemia, caused by parathyroid adenomas in $85\%$ of cases and parathyroid hyperplasia in $15\%$ of cases.

Renal calculi

Kidney stones formed as a frequent renal complication of hyperparathyroidism due to sustained hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria.