Pituitary Gland Disorders Quiz

Overview of Pituitary Gland Disorders and Manifestations

• Hypopituitarism is caused by inadequate supply of hypothalamic-releasing hormones or pituitary gland's inability to produce hormones, and it manifests as decreased glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity, decreased cell growth stimulation, hypo-pigmentation, slow BMR, amenorrhea/infertility, and decreased male/female sex characteristics.
• Hyperpituitarism is commonly due to a benign, slow-growing pituitary adenoma and can manifest as gigantism (GH hypersecretion before closure of epiphyseal plates) or acromegaly (GH hypersecretion during adulthood). Symptoms of acromegaly include connective tissue proliferation, bony proliferation, and neurological/visual changes.
• Problems in the posterior pituitary gland can manifest as ADH deficiency (diabetes insipidus) or ADH excess (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion/SIADH).
• Diabetes insipidus can be neurogenic or nephrogenic, and it can manifest as polyuria, polydipsia, decreased urine specific gravity, hypernatremia, hypotension, decreased pulse strength, hemoconcentration, poor skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, and weight loss.
• SIADH can be caused by ectopic secretion of ADH (e.g. cancers) or post-cranial surgery, and it can manifest as oliguria, high specific gravity, hyponatremia, hypertension, increased pulse strength, low serum osmolality, and weight gain.
• Thyroid/parathyroid gland disorders can be primary or secondary. Primary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the thyroid gland itself, while secondary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the pituitary gland/hypothalamus (TSH).
• Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased T3 and T4 levels and can be caused by autoimmune disease, atrophy due to aging, treatment of hyperthyroidism, or failure of the pituitary gland/hypothalamus. Symptoms include hair loss, lethargy, dry skin, muscle aches/weakness, constipation, intolerance to cold, and menstrual disturbances.
• Late clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism include subnormal temperature, bradycardia, weight gain, decreased level of consciousness, thickened skin, and cardiac complications.
• Myxedema coma is an emergency/crisis of hypothyroidism that can manifest as altered level of consciousness, CV collapse, hypothermia, hypoventilation, and severe metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis).
• Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by low PTH levels and can manifest as hypocalcemia, muscle cramps, tetany, seizures, and Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs.
• Hyperparathyroidism

Overview of Pituitary Gland Disorders and Manifestations

• Hypopituitarism is caused by inadequate supply of hypothalamic-releasing hormones or pituitary gland's inability to produce hormones, and it manifests as decreased glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity, decreased cell growth stimulation, hypo-pigmentation, slow BMR, amenorrhea/infertility, and decreased male/female sex characteristics.
• Hyperpituitarism is commonly due to a benign, slow-growing pituitary adenoma and can manifest as gigantism (GH hypersecretion before closure of epiphyseal plates) or acromegaly (GH hypersecretion during adulthood). Symptoms of acromegaly include connective tissue proliferation, bony proliferation, and neurological/visual changes.
• Problems in the posterior pituitary gland can manifest as ADH deficiency (diabetes insipidus) or ADH excess (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion/SIADH).
• Diabetes insipidus can be neurogenic or nephrogenic, and it can manifest as polyuria, polydipsia, decreased urine specific gravity, hypernatremia, hypotension, decreased pulse strength, hemoconcentration, poor skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, and weight loss.
• SIADH can be caused by ectopic secretion of ADH (e.g. cancers) or post-cranial surgery, and it can manifest as oliguria, high specific gravity, hyponatremia, hypertension, increased pulse strength, low serum osmolality, and weight gain.
• Thyroid/parathyroid gland disorders can be primary or secondary. Primary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the thyroid gland itself, while secondary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the pituitary gland/hypothalamus (TSH).
• Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased T3 and T4 levels and can be caused by autoimmune disease, atrophy due to aging, treatment of hyperthyroidism, or failure of the pituitary gland/hypothalamus. Symptoms include hair loss, lethargy, dry skin, muscle aches/weakness, constipation, intolerance to cold, and menstrual disturbances.
• Late clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism include subnormal temperature, bradycardia, weight gain, decreased level of consciousness, thickened skin, and cardiac complications.
• Myxedema coma is an emergency/crisis of hypothyroidism that can manifest as altered level of consciousness, CV collapse, hypothermia, hypoventilation, and severe metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis).
• Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by low PTH levels and can manifest as hypocalcemia, muscle cramps, tetany, seizures, and Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs.
• Hyperparathyroidism

Overview of Pituitary Gland Disorders and Manifestations

• Hypopituitarism is caused by inadequate supply of hypothalamic-releasing hormones or pituitary gland's inability to produce hormones, and it manifests as decreased glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity, decreased cell growth stimulation, hypo-pigmentation, slow BMR, amenorrhea/infertility, and decreased male/female sex characteristics.
• Hyperpituitarism is commonly due to a benign, slow-growing pituitary adenoma and can manifest as gigantism (GH hypersecretion before closure of epiphyseal plates) or acromegaly (GH hypersecretion during adulthood). Symptoms of acromegaly include connective tissue proliferation, bony proliferation, and neurological/visual changes.
• Problems in the posterior pituitary gland can manifest as ADH deficiency (diabetes insipidus) or ADH excess (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion/SIADH).
• Diabetes insipidus can be neurogenic or nephrogenic, and it can manifest as polyuria, polydipsia, decreased urine specific gravity, hypernatremia, hypotension, decreased pulse strength, hemoconcentration, poor skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, and weight loss.
• SIADH can be caused by ectopic secretion of ADH (e.g. cancers) or post-cranial surgery, and it can manifest as oliguria, high specific gravity, hyponatremia, hypertension, increased pulse strength, low serum osmolality, and weight gain.
• Thyroid/parathyroid gland disorders can be primary or secondary. Primary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the thyroid gland itself, while secondary disorders are caused by dysfunction in the pituitary gland/hypothalamus (TSH).
• Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased T3 and T4 levels and can be caused by autoimmune disease, atrophy due to aging, treatment of hyperthyroidism, or failure of the pituitary gland/hypothalamus. Symptoms include hair loss, lethargy, dry skin, muscle aches/weakness, constipation, intolerance to cold, and menstrual disturbances.
• Late clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism include subnormal temperature, bradycardia, weight gain, decreased level of consciousness, thickened skin, and cardiac complications.
• Myxedema coma is an emergency/crisis of hypothyroidism that can manifest as altered level of consciousness, CV collapse, hypothermia, hypoventilation, and severe metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis).
• Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by low PTH levels and can manifest as hypocalcemia, muscle cramps, tetany, seizures, and Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs.
• Hyperparathyroidism