Study note

Toxic nodular goitre: clinical sequence and active tissue

THE CONTEXT

Toxic nodular goitre produces secondary thyrotoxicosis after a simple nodular goitre has been present for a long time.

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The nodular goitre precedes hyperthyroidism by a long interval, usually in middle-aged or elderly patients.

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Eye signs are very infrequently associated with this condition.

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In many cases, the nodules are inactive and the internodular thyroid tissue is overactive.

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In some cases, one or more nodules are overactive. Hyperthyroidism then results from autonomous thyroid tissue, as in a toxic adenoma.

NEETx

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