Acute thyroiditis complicating parathyroidectomy.

This report describes a 59-year-old man who presented 10 days after surgery for hyperparathyroidism with pulmonary edema, mildly abnormal echocardiogram, and elevated free T4 level with suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone level. Follow-up documented resolution of the elevated free T4 level with 24-hour thyroid scan and uptake at 60 days showing reduced uptake and normal gland anatomy. Previous case reports have been made of thyroiditis at variable time intervals after parathyroidectomy and are here reviewed. This entity represents an under appreciated potential morbidity associated with parathyroid surgical procedures.