Diffuse Toxic Goiter

Etiology

The following are potential commonly seen causes of goiter development:

• Iodine deficiency [1]
• Autoimmune disorders [2]
• Smoking
• Hereditary pattern [3]
• Medications like lithium, iodides, and interferon-alpha [4], among others
• Radiation therapy [5]
• Inflammation and infections 

Epidemiology

Graves disease is the most common cause of diffuse toxic goiter. It is also the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States and worldwide, affecting 1 in 200 people. It usually affects people between 30 and 50 years of age but can occur in any age group. It is 7 to 10 times more common in females than males (see Image. Goiter in a Female). A marked increase in familial incidence has also been observed.

Pathophysiology

Diffuse toxic goiter is a diffusely enlarged vascular gland with a rubber-like consistency. Microscopically, the follicular cells are hypertrophic and hyperplastic with little colloid in them. Lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrate into the gland and can ultimately aggregate into lymphoid follicles. All cases of diffuse toxic goiter are not Graves disease, and there may be various non-autoimmune causative processes, although the majority of cases are autoimmune. In Graves disease, antibodies are directed toward the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, which is present in thyroid follicular cells. The chronic stimulation of these receptors results in the production of excess amounts of T3 and T4 hormones and causes the enlargement of the thyroid gland, which eventually results in a goiter.[6]

Histopathology

This disease has the following histological characteristics:

• Diffuse non-nodular enlargement of the gland with a smooth capsule and increased vascularity.
• Hyperplasia of both follicular and papillary cells with lymphocytic infiltration into the stroma of the thyroid gland
• Follicular cells can also be enlarged and, in extreme cases, have enlarged nuclei mimicking that of papillary thyroid carcinoma. In Graves disease, however, they tend to maintain their rounded shape and have minimal clearing.

Due to the last point above, there have been controversies regarding the association between Graves disease and papillary thyroid carcinoma and whether the coexistence of the two affects the prognosis. On systematic review of various studies, it has been seen that if a papillary carcinoma is discovered after surgical removal of the gland, the prognosis is excellent, whereas when discovering a tumor in a patient with Graves disease, the local characteristics of the tumor (like the size, extent, margins, functionality, etc) most probably decide the final prognosis.[7][8]

History and Physical

History

Patients may present with a history of one or more consequences of a hyperthyroid state. These include weight loss, heat intolerance (with other heat-related symptoms like polydipsia and sweating), tremors, nervousness, anxiety, fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, frequent defecation or diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc. Patients may also complain of an obvious neck swelling or sensation of a lump in the neck, globus, swallowing difficulty, orthopnea, etc. Patients with Graves disease may present with additional features like:

1. Ophthalmopathy, known as Graves orbitopathy (seen in 25% of patients), includes proptosis, diplopia, periorbital edema, excessive lacrimation, etc.
2. Thyroid dermatopathy (rare, only seen in 4% of patients, and usually concurrent with orbitopathy) presents with slightly thickened pigmented skin, especially over the pretibial area.
3. Abnormalities of the reproductive system, most frequently presenting as irregular menstruation.[9] 

Physical Examination

The most commonly described findings in a patient with the diffuse toxic goiter on physical exam are as follows:

• Constitutional: weight loss
• Head, eyes, ears, neck: neck swelling with occasional audible bruit, proptosis, lid lag, periorbital edema, exophthalmos
• Cardiovascular system: tachycardia, irregular heartbeat, systolic hypertension
• Neuromuscular: tremor of extremities, hyperreflexia, hyperactivity, muscle weakness
• Respiratory system: shortness of breath or tachypnea
• Skin and extremities: moist and warm skin, sweaty hands, pretibial myxedema

Evaluation

The primary evaluation of the toxic diffuse goiter consists of a complete thyroid profile, including serum T3, T4, and TSH levels. The serum TSH is the best screening test for evaluating thyroid hormone excess or deficiency.[10] In the case of diffuse toxic goiter, the above tests usually result in low or marginally low normal TSH levels with elevated peripheral serum thyroid hormone levels. Based on preferences per population characteristics, socioeconomic reasons, and cultural backgrounds, the modalities of evaluation of the cause of thyrotoxicosis can either be radioactive iodide uptake or a combination of thyroid ultrasound with TSH-receptor antibodies.[9] A high radioactive iodine uptake diffusely depicts Graves disease, as does an enlarged gland with positive TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb).

Treatment / Management

The treatment modalities for diffuse toxic goiter include:

Antithyroidthyroid Drugs (ATD)

1. The antithyroid drug options are propylthiouracil, methimazole, and carbimazole.
2. The American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology recommend methimazole as the preferred drug for Graves disease, except in patients with adverse reactions to the drug or women in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is preferred over propylthiouracil due to better efficacy, longer half-life and duration of action, and ease of dosing once a day.
3. There are two different regimens to administer ATDs. The first is titration, where the dose of ATD is tapered to the lowest possible dose when the euthyroid state is achieved. The second regimen is based on the block-and-replace method, where a high dose of ATD is given adjunct with thyroxine replacement to maintain a euthyroid state ultimately.[11]
4. A drawback of ATD therapy is the risk of recurrence, especially in the first year after stopping therapy. Studies reported a 50% to 55% risk of recurrence, with poor prognostic factors pointing to this direction, including severe hyperthyroidism, large goiter, high T3: T4 ratios, persistently suppressed TSH, and high baseline concentrations of TRAb.[12][13][14]
5. Rare but major side effects of ATD therapy include agranulocytosis, hepatotoxicity, and vasculitis.
(A1)

Radioactive Iodine Therapy (I-31, RAI)

1. RAI is the commonest modality to treat Graves disease in the United States, and it is a very safe and effective form of treatment.
2. The absolute contraindications of this therapy include pregnancy, breastfeeding, and severe uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis.
3. It can be administered in liquid or capsule forms, and fixed-dose therapy is as effective as calculated dose therapy based on the gland volume, iodine uptake, etc.
4. Patients must discontinue all iodine-containing medication and be on an iodine-restricted diet to ensure effective uptake of RAI.
5. ATD therapy needs to be discontinued, preferably a week before the use of RAI, and it can be resumed a few days after administering RAI if needed.
6. Potential side effects include the risk of developing hypothyroidism and, on rare occasions, transient radiation-induced hyperthyroidism or worsening of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
7. While hypothyroidism is actively screened at subsequent follow-ups, prednisone can be used to prevent the progression of mild TAO.
8. Patients have to be counseled about lifelong follow-up for either disease recurrence or for the development of hypothyroidism, and they benefit from prompt treatment if diagnosed with either abnormality.[13] 
(A1)

Surgery

1. Thyroidectomy is the most successful form of therapy for a diffuse toxic goiter, with total thyroidectomy being more successful than sub-total thyroidectomy with equivalent side effects.
2. Due to the side effects associated with the use of general anesthesia, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, vascular complications, and hypothyroidism, surgical intervention is usually the last line of treatment. 
3. It is preferred in patients who are unable to tolerate antithyroid medications or RAI treatment or in patients with compressive symptoms due to a bigger size of the goiter.[15]
(B3)

Differential Diagnosis

Although diagnosed through the various forms of evaluation, as described in detail above, the differential diagnosis of diffuse toxic goiter includes:

• Thyrotoxicosis factitia with overprescription or consumption of thyroid hormones
• Subacute or acute thyroiditis
• Multinodular goiter
• TSH secreting pituitary adenoma
• Iatrogenic iodine supplementation

Prognosis

Patients with diffuse toxic goiter, especially due to Graves disease, are expected to become hypothyroid during the natural course of their disease regardless of treatment. Prolonged thyrotoxicosis may cause ventricular thickening and, therefore, an increased risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Treatment with RAI is done with the aim of permanent hypothyroidism, thus making the patient dependent on lifelong thyroid hormone supplementation. ATDs have an average remission rate of 50% but an excellent prognosis after 4 years, devoid of relapse.[16]

Complications

The complications that can manifest with diffuse toxic goiter are as follows:

• Hyperthyroidism, or thyroid storm, due to prolonged untreated excess of thyroid hormone
• Cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure
• Rare liver pathology, including fibrosis [17]
• Dermatopathy, mostly associated with Graves disease
• Graves ophthalmopathy