Thyrotoxicosis represents the clinical syndrome that results from exposure to elevated levels of circulating thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism is used to describe thyrotoxicosis resulting from overproduction of thyroid hormones by thyrocytes, with Graves’ disease the commonest cause. Less frequently thyrotoxicosis occurs in the absence of hyperthyroidism, for example, a short-term thyrotoxicosis can occur when stored hormones are released in a destructive thyroiditis. The causes of thyrotoxicosis are listed in Table 6.1. Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and solitary toxic nodule account for 95% of cases and are commonly encountered in surgical practice. Causes such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or drug-related thyrotoxicosis are uncommon but may require surgical evaluation.
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Hubbard, J.G., Carroll, P.V. (2009). Thyrotoxicosis and Thyroiditis: Causes, Investigation, and Management. In: Hubbard, J., Inabnet, W., Lo, CY. (eds) Endocrine Surgery. Springer Specialist Surgery Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-881-4_6
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