Hyperthyroidism due to lymphoma involving the thyroid gland in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Case report and review of the literature

A 31-year old woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a history of lymphoma presented with a 2-week history of severe hyperthyroid symptoms and new-onset neck swelling. On physical examination, she was found to be clinically hyperthyroid, with a markedly enlarged, diffuse, tender goiter. Thyroid function testing confirmed hyperthyroidism. The patient had a rapidly deteriorating clinical course and died within days of her presentation. At autopsy, near-complete replacement of the thyroid gland with anaplastic large cell lymphoma was found, without coexisting infectious or autoimmune processes in the gland. This is the first case report of a patient with AIDS developing symptomatic thyroid involvement by lymphoma, and one of only a few case reports of hyperthyroidism associated with lymphoma in general.