Abstract

To characterize four patients with thyrotoxicosis and a low radioactive iodine uptake, thyroid biopsies were performed, and iodine metabolism was studied. Histologic examination showed the presence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, with no features of Graves's disease, in all. Detailed studies in one patient revealed insufficient metabolism of iodine to account for the clinical and chemical features of thyrotoxicosis, which implies that release of stored hormone by the inflammatory process causes the thyrotoxic state. The thyrotoxicosis in this entity subsides spontaneously. Thus, this form of thyrotoxicosis differs from the usual form found in Graves's disease in that histologie features of Graves's disease are absent, the radioactive iodine uptake is low, and specific antithyroid therapy is contraindicated. The observations further demonstrate that the radioactive iodine uptake remains a valuable tool in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis and the differentiation of its various forms.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.