HYPERTHYROIDISM

Course overview

THE THYROID GLAND IS A BILOBED STRUCTURE LOCATED IN THE ANTERIOR ASPECT OF THE TRACHEA BETWEEN THE CRICOID CARTILAGE AND THE SUPRASTERNAL NOTCH. EACH LOBE OF THE THYROID CONNECTS VIA A THYROID ISTHMUS. IT IS SUPPLIED VIA THE SUPERIOR THYROID ARTERY WHICH STEMS FROM THE EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY AND THE INFERIOR THYROID ARTERY, WHICH IS A BRANCH OF THE THYROCERVICAL TRUNK. THE TERM "HYPERTHYROIDISM" DEFINES A SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH EXCESS THYROID HORMONE PRODUCTION. IT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT THE TERMS THYROTOXICOSIS AND HYPERTHYROIDISM ARE SYNONYMS OF ONE ANOTHER. THE TERM "THYROTOXICOSIS" REFERS TO A STATE OF EXCESS THYROID HORMONE EXPOSURE TO TISSUES. ALTHOUGH HYPERTHYROIDISM CAN LEAD TO THYROTOXICOSIS AND CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM, AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.