Graves' Disease that Developed Shortly after Surgery for Thyroid Cancer

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that may present with various clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism. Patients with Graves' disease have a greater number of thyroid nodules and a higher incidence of thyroid cancer compared with patients with normal thyroid activity. However, cases in which patients are diagnosed with recurrence of Graves' disease shortly after partial thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer are very rare. Here we report a case of hyperthyroid Graves' disease that occurred after partial thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer. In this case, the patient developed hyperthyroidism 9 months after right hemithyroidectomy, and antithyroglobulin autoantibody and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor stimulating autoantibody were positive. Therefore, we diagnosed Graves' disease on the basis of the laboratory test results and thyroid ultrasonography findings. The patient was treated with and maintained on antithyroid drugs. The mechanism of the recurrence of Graves' disease in this patient is still unclear. The mechanism may have been the improper response of the immune system after partial thyroidectomy. To precisely determine the mechanisms in Graves' disease after partial thyroidectomy, further studies based on a greater number of cases are needed.

Choledocho-duodenal Fistula Caused by Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Choledocho-duodenal fistula is a rare condition. It is usually developed as a complication of the gallstone disease, and rarely developed by penetrating peptic ulcer, trauma and neoplasm. Tuberculosis as a etiology of choledocho-duodenal fistula is very rare, and only a few cases were reported. We experienced a case of choledocho-duodenal fistula due to tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 26 year-old man presented with epigastric pain. After 6 months of anti-tuberculous medication, He was free of symptom and the fistula was closed spontaneously. We report the case with a review of literatures.