Toxic thyroid adenoma

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Last reviewed: 16 Apr 2022
Last updated: 01 Feb 2019

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • palpable thyroid nodule
  • younger age
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • hyperphagia
  • weight loss
  • sweating/heat intolerance
  • nervousness
  • palpitations
  • oligomenorrhoea
  • hyperdefecation
  • dyspnoea
  • stare or lid lag
  • tachycardia
  • tremor
  • warm moist skin
  • muscle weakness
  • hoarseness
  • dysphagia
  • choking
  • mood change
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • young adult age
  • iodine deficiency
  • head and neck irradiation
  • family history of thyroid nodules
  • female sex
More risk factors
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Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • thyroid ultrasound
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • free thyroxine (T4; or total T4 with a measure of binding)
  • total T3 with a measure of binding (or free T3)
  • thyroid scan and uptake
  • metabolic panel
  • FBC
  • TSH receptor antibodies
  • thyroid peroxidase antibodies
  • ECG
  • CT neck (non-contrast)
More investigations to consider
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Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

non-pregnant non-lactating adults without mass effect

non-pregnant non-lactating adults with mass effect

pregnant or lactating

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Contributors

Authors

Elizabeth N. Pearce, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Boston University Medical Center

Boston

MA

Disclosures

ENP has received honoraria and travel funding for speaking at two international conferences for Merck Serono and at one for IBSA. She is a member of the Management Council of the Iodine Global Network. She is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Elizabeth N. Pearce would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sheila Feit, the previous contributor to this topic.

Peer reviewers

John C. Morris, MD

Professor of Medicine

Mayo Clinic

Rochester

MN

Disclosures

JCM declares that he has no competing interests.

Petros Perros, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCP

Consultant Endocrinologist

Freeman Hospital

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

UK

Disclosures

PP declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Toxic thyroid adenoma images

  • Differentials

    • Graves' disease
    • Toxic multinodular goitre
    • Thyrotoxic phase of painless lymphocytic thyroiditis
    More Differentials

  • Guidelines

    • 2017 guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and postpartum
    • Medical guidelines for clinical practice for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules
    More Guidelines
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