Primary hypothyroidism due to leukemic infiltration of the thyroid gland.
We describe a patient with acute B-lymphocyte lymphoblastic leukemia who developed laboratory changes (not detectable free thyroxine, TSH 66 microIU/ml) suggesting severe primary hypothyroidism. Histological examination at autopsy showed massive leukemic infiltration of the thyroid gland: the progressive reduction of thyroid hormone levels with concomitant increase in TSH levels observed over a three-month period from the onset of the hemopathy suggests a cause-effect relationship between leukemic infiltration of the thyroid gland and hypothyroidism.
Foresti
V
V
Ospedale Fatebenefratelli-Oftalmico, III Divisione di Medicina, Milano, Italy.
Parisio
E
E
Scolari
N
N
Ungaro
A
A
Villa
A
A
Confalonieri
F
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*