Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect
Ablative thyroid treatment for thyrotoxicosis due to thyrotropin-producing pituitary tumours
1 Clinical Sciences Centre, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
2 The Walton Centre For Neurology & Neurosurgery, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
3 University Hospital Aintree, Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinical Research Group, Clinical Sciences Centre, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
Correspondence to:
cdaousi{at}liverpool.ac.uk
Thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas) are rare tumours. It has been suggested that thyroid surgery or radioiodine treatment should not be considered in patients with such tumours as these treatments may facilitate rapid tumour expansion. We studied the effects of thyroid ablative treatment on tumour size and thyroid status in two patients with TSHomas. Patients studied were: (1) a female with a TSHoma who declined to undergo pituitary surgery and underwent a total thyroidectomy instead and (2) a male patient who opted for radioiodine treatment for his recurrent TSHoma. Changes in tumour size on serial magnetic resonance imaging scans, and restoration of euthyroidism were studied. No marked changes in tumour size or features of aggressiveness occurred in these patients over periods of 8 and 12 years. Euthyroidism was restored and maintained in both patients. Ablative thyroid treatment can be a safe and successful option to treat TSHomas.
Register for free content
The full text of all Editor's Choice articles and summaries of every article are free without registration
The full text of Images in ... articles are free to registered users
Only fellows can access the full text of case reports (apart from Editor's Choice) - become a fellow today, or encourage your institution to, so that together we can grow and develop this resource
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the case reports as they are published, and let us know what you think by commenting on the Editor's blog
