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Thyroid Gland: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Ultrasonography

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Endocrine Surgery Comprehensive Board Exam Guide

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Abstract

This chapter reviews the relevant physiology, pathophysiology, and anatomy of the thyroid gland. Key concepts are reviewed for a thorough understanding of normal thyroid physiology and the processes that create disease states of the thyroid. The anatomy, as it relates not only to the gland but to the surgical approach to the gland, is described in detail. The fundamental concepts of the symptoms, signs, and etiologies of thyroid disease are discussed. Ultrasonography, as it relates to the assessment of the normal thyroid gland and its most common pathology, is reviewed. The ultrasonographic features of malignancy and the current classification systems are summarized. To supplement the acquisition of this cornerstone material, this chapter begins with a case study along with a series of multiple-choice questions and answers to further enhance learning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Hastings, New Zealand

    Cristian M. Slough

  2. Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

  3. Division of Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

Authors
  1. Cristian M. Slough
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  2. Gregory W. Randolph
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Correspondence to Cristian M. Slough .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA

    Alexander L. Shifrin

  2. Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Marco Raffaelli

  3. The Claire and John Bertucci Endowed Chair in Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

  4. Department of Surgery, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    Oliver Gimm

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Slough, C.M., Randolph, G.W. (2021). Thyroid Gland: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Ultrasonography. In: Shifrin, A.L., Raffaelli, M., Randolph, G.W., Gimm, O. (eds) Endocrine Surgery Comprehensive Board Exam Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84737-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84737-1_1

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