Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid in a patient receiving radio-iodine therapy for amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis.
We describe a case of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis following heart valve replacement in a patient with a multinodular goitre. He responded to medical therapy with carbimazole and potassium perchlorate. Subsequent therapy with radio-iodine was followed 30 weeks later by the development of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. It is possible that amiodarone caused a low uptake of radio-iodine by the thyroid. It is not known whether this possible low dose exposure to ionising radiation played a part in the development of the anaplastic carcinoma.
Bridges
A B
AB
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Davies
R R
RR
Newton
R W
RW
McNeill
G P
GP
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000532:radiotherapy
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D000638:Amiodarone