Thyrotoxicosis due to metastatic papillary thyroid cancer in a patient with Graves' disease

J Endocrinol Invest. 2002 Jul-Aug;25(7):639-42. doi: 10.1007/BF03345090.

Abstract

Thyrotoxicosis resulting from functional thyroid cancer metastases is extremely rare, and is mostly caused by follicular cancer. The lesions causing thyrotoxicosis are usually bulky and extensive. We report here a patient with Graves' disease and concomitant papillary thyroid cancer who developed metastases causing symptomatic thyrotoxicosis. His serum titers of thyroid stimulating Ig (TSIs) were elevated. We believe that TSIs were responsible for thyrotoxicosis by stimulating hormonogenesis in the metastatic lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antithyroid Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / therapy
  • Graves Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / blood
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis* / immunology
  • Propylthiouracil / therapeutic use
  • Radiography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Thyrotoxicosis / etiology*
  • Thyrotoxicosis / immunology
  • Thyrotoxicosis / therapy
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antithyroid Agents
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Propylthiouracil
  • Thyroxine