Diffuse thyrotoxic goiter

• Anxiety
• Breast enlargement in men (possible)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Double vision
• Eyeballs that stick out (exophthalmos)
• Eye irritation and tearing
• Fatigue
• Frequent bowel movements
• Goiter (possible)
• Heat intolerance
• Increased appetite
• Increased sweating
• Insomnia
• Menstrual irregularities in women
• Muscle weakness
• Nervousness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations or arrhythmia)
• Restlessness and difficulty sleeping
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Tremor
• Weight loss (rarely, weight gain)

Physical examination shows an increased heart rate. Examination of the neck may show that the thyroid gland is enlarged (goiter).

Other tests include:

• Blood tests to measure levels of TSH, T3, and free T4
• Radioactive iodine uptake

This disease may also affect the following test results:

• Orbit CT scan or ultrasound
• Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)
• Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody
• Anti-TSH receptor antibody

Images

Endocrine glands

Grave's disease

Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Thyroid gland

Previous Section

Graves disease Overview

Next Section

Graves disease Treatment

Review Date: 04/20/2010
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)