This is a common cause of overactive thyroid disease characterised by bulging eyes or proptosis.
The condition is treated with drugs - carbimazole or propylthiouracil - which are anti-thyroid drugs and reduce the amount of excess thyroid hormone produced.
Once stabilised many patients continue with these medications for a year or so before coming off them. At this point approximately half of patients are cured but in the other half the disease recurs....
At this point the medications have to be restarted and definitive treatment considered to cure the condition once and for all.
There are only two options for definitive treatment:
1. Surgery - total thyroidectomy
2. Radioactive iodine
In general radioactive iodine is a good option and avoids the downsides of surgery (these are listed on my website - www.bucksendocrine.com )
Surgery is best of patients who fall into one of the following categories:
1. Large thyroid - which generally wont shrink with radioactive iodine
2. Thyroid eye disease - which can be made worse by radioactive iodine
3. Patients who wish to get pregnant within a few years of treatment
4. Some people cant cope with the concept of radiation treatment or the need to be away from children for up to 2 weeks afterwards.
More details on my website:
www.bucksendocrine.com
www.thyroidsurgeon.org.uk
