What is Thyroiditis? Inflamed Thyroid Gland, Types of Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is the term for inflammation of the thyroid gland, the bilobular gland located just below the voice box (larynx). The thyroid gland has several functions in the body but is best known for regulating the metabolism through the action of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroiditis includes several diseases of the thyroid gland with varying presentation and etiology – from infections to autoimmune disorders and drugs.Although inflammation is almost always associated with pain, there are forms of thyroiditis...

What is Whipple surgery? Reasons for Whipple procedure

Whipple surgery is a major surgical procedure involving the gastrointestinal organs like the distal part of stomach (latter portion), part of pancreas and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The medical term for Whipple surgery is pancreaticoduodenectomy. It is a standard procedure for certain cases of pancreatic cancer but due to the close proximity of the distal part of the stomach and duodenum, these structures may also be removed. Refer...

Just What Is Diabetes?

The pancreas islet cells that produce insulin and glucose hormones work together to help regulate the correct levels of blood glucose. When the pancreatic islets cells, alpha (A cells) and beta (B cells) cannot regulate glucose and insulin properly, diabetes forms in the pancreas and other major organ systems. The pancreas is positioned behind the stomach, in the concavity that is produced by the C-shape of the duodenum. The duodenum curves around...