Lorenza Sassi

Diagnosis and management of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis : similarities and differences between North American and European thyroidologists

Objective  To investigate how North American thyroidologists assess and treat amiodarone‐induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) and to compare the results with those of the same questionnaire‐based survey previously carried out among European thyroidologists.

Prevalence and natural history of Graves’ orbitopathy in the XXI century

Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disorder and the main extrathyroidal expression of Graves’ disease. There is a spectrum of ocular involvement in Graves’ disease, from complete absence of symptoms and signs to sight-threatening conditions. The prevalence of GO varies in different published series of Graves’ patients, due to confounding factors (new diagnosis vs long-lasting disease, way of defining and assessing ocular involvement, treatment of hyperthyroidism with potentially GO-modifying treatments, such as radioiodine). Recent studies, however, suggest that most Graves’ patients have mild or no GO at presentation, while moderate-to-severe GO is rare, and sight-threatening GO (mostly due to dysthyroid optic neuropathy) is exceptional in non-tertiary referral centers. The natural course of GO is incompletely defined, particularly in patients with moderate-to-severe GO, because these patients require prompt and disease-modifying therapies for orbital disease. In patients with mild GO at presentation, progression to severe forms is rare, while partial or complete remission is frequent. Progression of pre-existing GO or de novo occurrence of GO is more likely in smokers. There seems to be a trend towards a decline in progression of GO, possibly due to a better control of risk factors (cigarette smoking, thyroid dysfunction, etc.) and a closer interaction between endocrinologists and ophthalmologists allowing an improved integrated management of thyroid and orbital disease.

Ectopic submandibular thyroid tissue with a coexisting normally located multinodular goitre: case report and review of the literature

The simultaneous finding of submandibular ectopic thyroid tissue and functional orthotopic thyroid gland is an extremely rare event. The present report describes the case of a woman presenting with a left submandibular mass, distant from a palpable multinodular goitre. Ultrasonography showed an ovoidal solid mass adjacent to the lower margin of the left submandibular gland. Cytological specimens showed colloid material and thyroid follicular cells with no malignant features. A preoperative CT scan demonstrated a very thin connection between the thyroid and the submandibular mass. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and excision of the submandibular mass. The histopathological diagnosis of the thyroid tissue was multinodular goitre, and the submandibular mass was ectopic thyroid tissue showing a hyperplastic pattern. The main differential diagnosis of the submandibular mass was a metastasis from a well differentiated cancer. This case illustrates that an ectopic thyroid off the midline may not necessarily be a metastasis from a thyroid cancer.

Physical performance in newly diagnosed hypothyroidism: a pilot study

ObjectiveHypothyroidism is complicated by neuromuscular symptoms (myalgias, slowness of movements, and tiredness) and signs (easy fatigability and cramps), which may have a negative impact on general well-being and quality of life. In a pilot, prospective, controlled study, we investigated the features of muscle dysfunction in hypothyroidism by disease questionnaire, biochemical measures, and physical performance tests.Materials and MethodsFifty-seven consecutive patients with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism were enrolled, 27 subclinical (S-Hypo) and 30 overt (O-Hypo). A series of 30 euthyroid subjects, with similar demographic characteristics, served as controls. Patients were administered a short disease questionnaire and underwent laboratory exams and standardized physical tests, both at baseline and after restoration of biochemical euthyroidism.ResultsCompared to euthyroid controls, the O-Hypo group showed significantly higher prevalence of neuromuscular symptoms and significantly higher serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (p value < 0.0001). S-Hypo had slightly higher CPK levels and prevalence of neuromuscular symptoms than controls. Both S-Hypo and O-Hypo patients performed worse than controls in the six-minute walking test. Differences between patients and controls in handgrip strength test and timed chair standing test failed to reach statistical significance (although a trend was noticeable), possibly due to the small sample size. In O-Hypo, an inverse correlation was found between CPK levels and the handgrip strength test (p value < 0.001). Restoration of euthyroidism was associated with normalization of questionnaire responses, six-minute walking test, as well as serum CPK levels.ConclusionIn addition to neuromuscular symptoms, hypothyroidism is associated with abnormalities of physical performance. The six-minute walking test is the most valuable test to assess this aspect. In the pilot study, levothyroxine therapy could reverse muscle functional abnormalities.

Quale trattamento attuare per l’ipertiroidismo nei pazienti con orbitopatia basedowiana?

SommarioIl trattamento ottimale dell’ipertiroidismo nei pazienti orbitopatici è controverso. Nelle forme lievi (attive o inattive) o moderate-gravi ma inattive, il trattamento dell’ipertiroidismo è indipendente dall’orbitopatia; nelle forme gravissime (neurite ottica) l’ipertiroidismo va controllato con gli antitiroidei. Nell’orbitopatia moderata-grave e attiva l’approccio è discusso e non c’è dimostrazione che, per la prognosi finale dell’orbitopatia, l’approccio conservativo (antitiroidei) sia superiore a quello ablativo (radioiodio, tiroidectomia, ablazione tiroidea totale) o viceversa.

Thyroid Hormone Treatment for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: What Drug, How Long, What Dose?

Abstract: Treatment with thyroid hormone is needed in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after the initial treatment (thyroidectomy followed, in most cases, by radioiodine remnant ablation) for two reasons: a) Correction of hypothyroidism in an athyreotic patient ( replacement therapy ); b) Blockade of thyrotropin (TSH) secretion in view of the TSH-dependence of DTC ( TSH-suppressive therapy ). Levothyroxine (L-T4) is the hormone of choice, since combina-tion with levotriiodothyronine does not add any clear advantage with respect to L-T4 monotherapy. While replacement therapy obviously is a lifelong requirement, duration of TSH-suppressive therapy depends on the tumor risk stratification after and the response to the initial treatment. According to recent European and American guidelines, in low-risk DTC L-T4 treatment should be carried out at TSH-suppressive doses until there is evidence that the patient is disease-free. In high-risk DTC, TSH suppression should be maintained for several years after such an evidence has been achieved. After-wards, the patient can be shifted to replacement doses, also to avoid the risks of iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis, especially in the elderly and/or in the presence of cardiovascular disease. The dose of L-T4 must be invidualized; particular attention must be given to the coexistence of pathophysiological conditions or drug treatments that may affect L-T4 absorption or me-tabolism.