All thyroid tumors occur most often in the background of increased function of the body - hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone Stimulating proliferation (proliferation) gland tissue. Is no exception and thyroid adenoma - a benign tumor that develops in glandular tissue.

Structure and types of thyroid adenoma

Thyroid adenoma is a benign tumor that develops from the tissues of the thyroid gland and having a kind of round or oval knot encased in connective tissue capsule. The adenoma can be single (solitary) or multiple (multinodular goiter). Most adenoma occurs in women during the second half of life, after forty years.

Adenoma grows very slowly, but occasionally has larger dimensions, leading to compression of surrounding organs and tissues including blood vessels and nerves. Adenomas of less than one centimeter in diameter, did not manifest itself.

Several species of adenomas: follicular (consisting of thyroid tissue), fetal (their structure resembles the structure of the thyroid gland at different stages of fetal development), trabecular (the cells are grouped in compact bands, separated by a very thin layer of fibrous stroma), toxic or Plummer's disease and others.

In patients with an adenoma thyroid gland function usually is not broken, but toxic adenoma developing hyperthyroidism. All types of thyroid adenomas can degenerate into malignant tumors.

As appears

If adenoma is small, compress surrounding tissue and does not produce large amounts of thyroid hormones Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects , It does not manifest itself and is a random finding in the professional examinations or performing ultrasound for another reason.

Most adenoma deforms the neck, it may interfere with breathing, blood circulation and pain (if compresses the nerves).

Toxic adenoma, which produces an increased amount of thyroid hormones, appears as hyperthyroidism.

Since adenoma develops slowly, slowly growing and symptoms of hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: symptoms - how to determine what happens to you? . First, there is irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper , Tearfulness, frequent changes of mood. Then join sweating, palpitations, irregular heartbeat until atrial fibrillation, blood pressure rises. Patients always holds slightly increased (low-grade) temperature, they do not tolerate heat, reduced performance (worried about the constant weakness). With long-term course of the disease can impair the operation of all organs and systems, including typical ocular symptoms appear - protrusion of the eyeballs (exophthalmos).

In elderly patients symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be worn, they often get lost in the background of age-related disorders in the cardiovascular system, and therefore are diagnosed late.

How is diagnosed

Adenomas larger than one centimeter in diameter can be felt in the form of rounded painless node smooth, rolling in swallowing. If you find this site patients underwent ultrasonography (US), which allows you to better see the location and structure of education.

After that, by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of the adenomas are taken to study the cells, which in cytology laboratories define the morphological structure of the tumor and its malignant origin rule (accuracy of the method, unfortunately, is not one hundred percent).

Some adenomas can occur in cells. Adenoma, consisting entirely of these cells is regarded as an adenoma, prone to invasive growth (ingrowth into surrounding tissue - a property that is characteristic of malignant tumors).

Further research carried out thyroid radioactive iodine - scintigraphy. The method is based on the fact that the radioactive iodine is supplied in the tissue which synthesize thyroid hormones. Trabecular and fetal adenomas do not capture radioactive iodine, follicular capture and can synthesize thyroid hormones.

Not exciting or slightly thrilling radioactive iodine adenomas are called "cold", exciting as well as the rest of the breast tissue, - "warm", exciting more actively than their surrounding tissue - "hot". By "hot" refers adenomas toxic adenoma Pammer, causing hyperthyroidism.

Timely detection and removal of adenomas of the thyroid gland is very important, because it can compress the surrounding tissue, disrupting vital organs and degenerate into a malignant tumor.

Galina Romanenko

Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bones," is gradually making the bones weak and brittle - so brittle that a fall or a little pressure on them, for example, when a person bends, coughing, can cause cracks and even fractures. The reason for this is often a shortage in the body of calcium and other minerals. The most common result of osteoporosis are fractures in the bones - mostly in the spine, hips and wrists.

Symptoms

In the early stages of osteoporosis, when bone mass starts to decrease only, the patient no symptoms. When the bone mass decreases significantly, there are the following symptoms:

• Back pain, which are caused when a crack in the vertebrae can be very strong
• The gradual reduction of growth (an increase of patients with osteoporosis for several years may be reduced by 5-7 cm or more)
• Stoop
• Cracks in the vertebrae, hip bone others

Because the symptoms of osteoporosis occur in the later stages of the disease, it is advisable to undergo a medical examination, if you have no symptoms, but do you feel about one of the following groups of patients:

• Women older than 65 years or women older than 70 years, regardless of the presence of risk factors
• Women after menopause with at least one risk factor for osteoporosis
• Men aged 50 to 70 years old with at least one risk factor for osteoporosis
• People over 50 years old with a history of fractures
• People who regularly take prednisone Prednisolone - against inflammation, allergy and pain, but with complications , Aromatase inhibitors, and antispasmodic drugs
• Women after menopause who have recently completed a course of hormone replacement therapy
• Women who went through early menopause

Causes

Scientists do not know exactly why develop osteoporosis, but it is known that when this disease disrupts the natural process of bone remodeling.

Our bones are constantly changing - there is a new bone mass, and destroyed the old (resorption). This process is called bone remodeling. Children and young people's bones are formed faster than the collapse, and bone mass increases. It reaches a peak, on average, to 30 years. After this age, bone remodeling continues, but the formation of bone mass starts to happen more slowly than destruction.

The likelihood of developing osteoporosis in a particular person depends on what type of bone mass, he managed to score 30 years, and how quickly he loses it later. The greater the volume at the peak bone mass, the lower the likelihood of developing osteoporosis as they age.

The hardness of the bone depends on their size and density. Density is partially dependent on how much calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in the bones. If the level is below the normal minerals, bones will gradually weaken. Other factors such as hormone levels, also have an impact on bone density. In particular, the low level of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health   in females and testosterone Five myths about testosterone   Men may also cause a decrease in bone mass.

Risk factors

• Inadequate intake of calcium

If the body lacks calcium regularly, the likelihood of developing osteoporosis increases significantly. The density of bone mass with age will decrease rapidly, the risk of cracking - increase.

• The use of tobacco products (smoking, chewing tobacco)

While it is not clear what kind of role in the development of osteoporosis plays tobacco, but we know that can reduce bone mass.

• Eating Disorders

Anorexia and bulimia Bulimia - how to deal with an invisible enemy?   increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.

• Sedentary lifestyle

People who spend much of their time sitting, osteoporosis develops more often than those who lead an active lifestyle. Especially useful for bone health walking, running, jumping rope, dancing and lifting weights.

• Alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuse also increases the risk of osteoporosis, as alcohol impairs the body's ability to absorb calcium.