Graves' disease occurring after surgery of a multinodular goiter: a case report

The transition of toxic or nodular goiter to Graves' disease is known as a rare side effect of (131)I therapy. Here, we report the case of a 46-year-old German female with posttherapeutical Graves' disease after surgery of a multinodular goiter. Although the major part of the thyroid was excised the patient suffered from manifest Graves' disease including typical clinical and laboratory findings. Prior to surgery, no TSH receptor antibodies were found, although low TPO antibody titres could already be detected. It may thus be assumed that the therapeutic manipulation elicited the key change towards a TSH receptor antibody production in a predisposed organ or alternatively deteriorated a mild unapparent pre-existing Graves' disease. It might be concluded that the possibility of posttherapeutical Graves' disease should be considered in the presence of TPO antibodies prior to the surgical intervention.