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A case of thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting tumor complicated by periodic paralysis
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai.
Abstract:
A 27-year-old man had symptoms of hyperthyroidism and periodic paralysis. While hyperthyroid, his serum thyrotropin (TSH) level was inappropriately elevated at 6.4 microU/ml. The serum alpha subunit level was also elevated. MR imaging revealed a pituitary tumor and transsphenoidal adenomectomy was performed. Immunocytochemistry with an antibody directed against the beta-subunit of TSH revealed a TSH-secreting tumor. This is the first case of hyperthyroidism due to a TSH-secreting pituitary tumor complicated by periodic paralysis. This association indicates that thyrotoxicosis may induce paralysis in susceptible persons by a mechanism which is not autoimmune.