Journal of Korean Thyroid Association  2014;7(1):96-101

doi:10.11106/jkta.2014.7.1.96

A Case of Graves' Disease Following Subacute Thyroiditis Presented with Creeping.

Eon Ju JEON 1 ; Eui Dal JUNG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Creeping thyroiditis; Graves' disease; Subacute thyroiditis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

The occurrence of Graves' disease following subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is rare. The pathophysiology of it is not well known. We report a case of Graves' disease following SAT presented with creeping. A 45-year-old woman presented with neck pain, and thyrotoxic symptoms. Neck pain migrated from left lobe to right lobe of the thyroid. Thyroid scan revealed decreased uptake in the both lobes except the superior portion of the right thyroid gland. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with SAT and treated with steroid therapy. Four months later, thyroid function test showed suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), elevated free thyroxine (T4) and TSH receptor antibody. Thyroid scan revealed increased uptake compatible with Graves' disease. The autoimmune alteration after SAT may lead to the development of Graves' disease in the susceptible patients. These patients should be monitored for the development of Graves' disease.