title: A case of TSH receptor antibody-positive hyperthyroidism with functioning metastases of thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: The presence of TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) is rarely responsible for hyperthyroidism due to metastatic lesions of thyroid carcinoma. A 70-year-old woman was incidentally found to be thyrotoxic around the time that external irradiation was performed for multiple bone metastases 9 years after subtotal thyroidectomy for follicular carcinoma. Hyperthyroidism persisted after oral administration of thiamazole. Relevant laboratory data were as follows: FT4 9.6 ng/L, FT3 7.3 ng/L, TSH <0.19 mU/L, TBII 70, TSAb 735, and Tg 32,000 microg/L. 131I-total body scan showed 131I accumulation in the occipital bone, cervical vertebra, thoracic vertebra, ilium, and residual thyroid gland. Since the ilium uptake (11.6) was markedly higher compared to the residual thyroid gland uptake (0.14), four subsequent 131I therapies were performed. The patient became hypothyroid, and TBII became negative. TSAb became negative after the first 131I-therapy but has increased again to 204 at present. Tg was 1,962 microg/L despite high TSH levels. 131I accumulation in the residual thyroid, cervical vertebra, and thoracic vertebra disappeared. Also 131I accumulation in the ilium has gradually decreased, but the image in the occipital bone has become markedly distinctive. This is a rare case characterized by TRAb-positive hyperthyroidism, by T3-predominant thyrotoxicosis, and by stronger accumulation of 131I in the metastatic tumor than in the residual thyroid gland. Thus, the response to TRAb and 131I-therapy is different among metastatic thyroid tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Kobe City General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikekubo
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimodahira
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Megumu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oobayashi
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurahachi
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; C094372:thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D008713:Methimazole; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D013974:Thyroxine