[Hyperthyroidism induced by iodine in an apparently normal thyroid gland. A new iatrogenic disease]

Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis was reported to occur in patients with previously altered thyroid gland. Evidence is presented here from 23 cases that iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis may also occur in patients with no prior thyroid desorder and is characterized by: a) an almost undetectable 131I uptake, wich can be activated by TSH; b) a spontaneous improvement within a few weeks or months after withdrawing the high intake of iodine; c) the absence of any detectable thyroid abnormality after recovery.