Silent Thyrotoxic Thyroiditis

Excerpt

Thyrotoxicosis can result from a number of pathologic processes. The most commonly recognized are chronic diseases such as toxic diffuse goiter (Graves' disease), toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma, all characterized by a gradual onset and prolonged symptomatic course of hyperthyroidism due to increased synthesis and release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. In contrast, there are a group of subacute thyroid diseases, characterized by inflammation and alteration of the normal thyroid architecture, that produce signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism because of the release of preformed stores of thyroid hormone. Whereas a decade ago subacute thyroid disease was reported