J Korean Thyroid Assoc.  2014 May;7(1):96-101.

A Case of Graves' Disease Following Subacute Thyroiditis Presented with Creeping

• Jeon EJ
• Jung ED

Abstract

The occurrence of Graves' disease following subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is rare. The pathophysiology of it is not well known. We report a case of Graves' disease following SAT presented with creeping. A 45-year-old woman presented with neck pain, and thyrotoxic symptoms. Neck pain migrated from left lobe to right lobe of the thyroid. Thyroid scan revealed decreased uptake in the both lobes except the superior portion of the right thyroid gland. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with SAT and treated with steroid therapy. Four months later, thyroid function test showed suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), elevated free thyroxine (T4) and TSH receptor antibody. Thyroid scan revealed increased uptake compatible with Graves' disease. The autoimmune alteration after SAT may lead to the development of Graves' disease in the susceptible patients. These patients should be monitored for the development of Graves' disease.

Keyword

Creeping thyroiditis; Graves' disease; Subacute thyroiditis

MeSH Terms

Female
Graves Disease*
Humans
Middle Aged
Neck Pain
Receptors, Thyrotropin
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid Gland
Thyroiditis, Subacute*
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine
Receptors, Thyrotropin
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Thyroid ultrasound in transverse view showed a homogeneous parenchyma of the right lobe (A) and a heterogeneous hypoechoic area of the left lobe (arrow, B) during a local clinic visit.

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  Fig. 2. Thyroid scan with Tc-99m pertechnetate showed decreased tracer activity in thyroid gland except focal uptake of the upper of right lobe (arrow, A) during a first visit to our hospital and increased tracer uptake in thyroid gland after 4 months (B).

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  Fig. 3. Thyroid ultrasound showed a heterogeneous parenchyma (A) and less blood flows (B) on the inferior aspects of the right lobe in transverse view and longitudinal view (C). The Left lobe showed homogeneous parenchyma in transverse view (D) during a first visit.

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  Fig. 4. Changes of thyroid function test. TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH-r-Ab: TSH-receptor antibody, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

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  Fig. 5. Thyroid ultrasound in transverse view showed a heterogeneous parenchyma (A) and an increased blood flows (B) of the thyroid gland after 4 months.

Reference

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