[Graves' disease and papillary thyroid cancer--coincidence or association?].

METHODS

A 41-year-old woman presented with hyperhydrosis, tremor, restlessness, sleeplessness and diarrhea. She had a tachycardia and later she developed soreness of her conjunctives. A tender goitre could be palpated.

METHODS

Laboratory results showed thryeotoxicosis and later elevated TRAK. Ultrasound revealed a thyroid nodule. Scintigraphic uptake was generally elevated. Graves disease was diagnosed.

METHODS

After 12 months of thyreostatic medication recurrence occurred and a thyroidectomy was performed. Histologically a papillary cancer was found and postoperative radioiodinetherapy was added.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to leading symptoms of thyreotoxicosis the thyroid nodule has preoperatively not been paid enough attention to. A pathophysiologic association of Graves disease and differentiated thyroid cancer is controversely discussed but seems possible considering present literature data. Scintigraphically "cold" nodules in graves disease, as in simple nodular goitre, have a higher probability of malignancy.