ABSTRACT
Thyroid storm is a rare, life-threatening condition that can be caused by various pathologies including serious conditions associated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-producing tumours. We present the case of a 17-year-old male patient with a 1-month history of dyspnoea and a 3-day history of palpitations and fever. General examination revealed a left testicular mass. Blood tests revealed ß-hCG >225,000 mIU/ml, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.02 IU/ml, and thyroxine (T4) 19.07 µg/dl. He was admitted with thyroid storm. Treatment with antithyroid drugs and chemotherapy was started, but the patient died on the third day of admission. This case highlights a rare occurrence of thyroid storm linked to testicular choriocarcinoma, and provides a necessary reminder that, in some instances, hCG at very high levels can exert a thyrotropic effect due to its molecular structure, which is similar to that of TSH. LEARNING POINTS: Thyroid storm is rarely associated with testicular choriocarcinoma.Sometimes, human chorionic gonadotropin at very high levels can exert a thyrotropic effect due to its molecular structure, which is similar to that of thyroid-stimulating hormone.The clinical course and management of thyroid storm secondary to testicular choriocarcinoma in a young male is described.
ABSTRACT
Metastasic tumours to the oral cavity are extremely rare lesions that represent 1% of all oral and maxillofacial malignancies. Most reported cases involve the jaw bones than the soft tissues. Metastasis to the oral soft tissues most prevalently affects the gingiva and alveolar mucosa. Gingival metastasis may have an unremarkable clinical appearance and they can be difficult to distinguish from more common hyperplasic or reactive lesions that appear to be benign entities, such as peripheral giant-cell granuloma, pyogenic granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma. We present an unusual case of a testicular choriocarcinoma metastasized to the maxillary gingiva mimicking a reactive lesion. In addition, we also present a literature review of previous reported cases and a brief discussion about the etiopathogeny of testicular germ cell tumors, and how these malignant cells can reach the gingival tissues.
Los tumores metastásicos a la cavidad bucal son lesiones extremadamente raras que representan el 1% de todas las neoplasias malignas bucales y maxilofaciales. La mayoría de los casos reportados afectan más a los huesos maxilares que los tejidos blandos. Las metástasis a los tejidos blandos bucales involucran más prevalentemente a la encía y la mucosa alveolar. Las metástasis gingivales pueden tener un aspecto clínico no característico y suelen ser difíciles de distinguir de otras lesiones hiperplásicas o reactivas que parecen ser entidades benignas, tales como el granuloma periférico de células gigantes, el granuloma piogénico y el fibroma osificante periférico. Presentamos un inusual reporte de caso de un coriocarcinoma testicular metastásico a la encía maxilar simulando una lesión reactiva. Además, también se presenta una revisión de la literatura de los casos previamente publicados y una breve discusión acerca de la etiopatogenia de los tumores testiculares de células germinales, y cómo estas células malignas pueden llegar a los tejidos gingivales.