Pathology Student

Pituitary adenomas in 500 words or less

Pituitary adenomas are benign, glandular tumors of the pituitary gland.Â They are pretty common tumors (they account for about 10% of all intracranial neoplasms).Â (more…)

Can too much iodine cause hypothyroidism?

Q. I heard that if you ingest too much iodine, you can develop hypothyroidism. Is that true?Â (more…)

Can thyroid disease run in families?

Q. I was just wondering if you knew of any hereditary component to thyroid problems. (more…)

How does the dexamethasone suppression test work?

Q. I am confused as to why high-dose dexamethasone inhibits a pituitary source, but the lower dose does not. Â (more…)

What goes on inside a caseating granuloma?

Q. Are the caseating granulomas seen in tuberculosis considered part of innate or adaptive immunity? What’s happening inside them?

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Why do you need the intrinsic pathway when you have the extrinsic pathway?

Q. I understand that hemophilia is caused by factor VIII or IX deficiency and both factors work in the intrinsic pathway. (more…)

How to study for boards, part II

Today we’ll continue on in our little series of posts on how to study for boards. InÂ part I,Â we talked about how to set up a study plan, and how to pick among all the resources available for students. (more…)

Adrenal cortical hypoplasia vs. hyperplasia

Q. What does it mean when Robbins says the adrenal cortices are hyper- and hypoplastic?

A. Hypoplastic adrenal cortices mean that the adrenal cortices have atrophied; hyperplastic adrenal cortices mean that they have expanded. (more…)

How to memorize the interleukins

I know a bunch of you are studying for boards, or are thinking about studying for boards. Any little memory aid that could help with a question or two is probably most welcome at this point. (more…)

Why doesn’t aldosterone secretion depend on ACTH?

Q. I have a question about the secretion of aldosterone that I haven’t been able to figure out by searching online or looking in books (maybe I’m looking in the wrong places!). (more…)