[Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism in the aged. 2. Pathomechanism, differential diagnosis and therapy problems]. / Jod-induzierte Hyperthyreose im Alter. Teil 2: Pathomechanismus, differentialdiagnostische und therapeutische Probleme.

The occurrence of multiple processes in elderly patients brings a high risk for diagnostic or therapeutic induced iodine-hyperthyroidism. Often an atypical form of hyperthyroidism without classical symptoms is induced. The cause of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism exists mostly in autonomous tissue beyond a "critical volume" in localized or disseminated form. If the deficiency of iodine in endemic goitre areas is substituted by iodine-application, hypermetabolism of autonomous tissue causes hyperthyroidism. The pathomechanism of autonomy and iodine-induced hyperthyroidism is not completely known. General iodine salt prophylaxis will bring less amounts of autonomous goitres. Some differential diagnostic possibilities for avoiding iodine-contamination in the elderly patients and therapeutic consequences after unavoidable iodine-application are described.

[Oncocytoma of the thyroid gland]. / Das Onkozytom der Schilddrüse.

The Huerthle cell tumor is quite frequent in southern Germany; this is shown by examinations of patients from our field hospital for nuclear medicine. Our findings conclude with data presented by Galvan (Salzburg). The certainly quite short observation period shows that Huerthle cell adenomas occur much more frequent than carcinomas, when a Huerthle cell neoplasm is diagnosed cytologically. Our investigations show, that Huerthle cell tumors of the thyroid gland are a not wellknown and rare disease, which necessitates a clear decision as result of the cytological finding as far as necessary surgical measures are concerned. This is probably the only way to improve the efficiency of measures for early diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the thyroid gland. Considering the want of clearness which still exists referring to the dignity of Huerthle cell tumors in our opinion even cases which had been diagnosed as adenomas histologically should be controlled regularly once a year during an observation period of ten years.