Graves’ disease with an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule: case report

We present the case of a 68‑year‑old woman with Graves’ disease, orbitopathy and an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with orbitopathy as a sign of euthyroid Graves‑Basedow’s disease, confirmed by the presence of thyrotropin receptor antibodies. Five years later symptoms of hyperthyroidism occurred. Thyroid scan with iodine‑131 (131I) showed a hot nodule in the right lobe. Recurrences of hyperthyroidism and short remissions were observed in the course of the disease – the symptoms typical of hyperthyroidism due to an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the nodule revealed no atypical follicular cells and the patient was scheduled for 131I treatment. She has been euthyroid for over one year.