毒性结节性甲状腺肿 (MNG) 包含多个自主功能性结节,导致甲状腺功能亢进。在结节性甲状腺肿中,功能亢进的结节会以单个毒性结节相似的方式发展。大部分功能亢进的结节都有甲状腺细胞胚系突变,并会影响促甲状腺激素 (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) 受体。[5]Tonacchera M, Chiovato L, Pinchera A, et al. Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules in toxic multinodular goiter share activating thyrotropin receptor mutations with solitary toxic adenoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998;83:492-498.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.83.2.4559http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9467563?tool=bestpractice.com另外,在毒性或自主性MNGs患者的功能亢进性非腺瘤结节中也发现了TSH受体的激活突变。[6]Tonacchera M, Agretti P, Chiovato L, et al. Activating thyrotropin receptor mutations are present in nonadenomatous hyperfunctioning nodules of toxic or autonomous multinodular goiter. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:2270-2274.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.85.6.6634http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10852462?tool=bestpractice.com但在相同的甲状腺肿中无功能性甲状腺结节中不存在这些突变。
毒性多结节性甲状腺肿患者通常有长期甲状腺肿病史,在世界上,碘缺乏是研究最多的甲状腺肿的流行病学危险因素。[7]Krohn K, Führer D, Bayer Y, et al. Molecular pathogenesis of euthyroid and toxic multinodular goiter. Endocr Rev. 2005;26:504-524.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/er.2004-0005http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15615818?tool=bestpractice.com在碘供应充足的地区,甲状腺自主性结节并不常见(占甲状腺毒症的3-15%)。[2]Gabriel EM, Bergert ER, Grant CS, et al. Germline polymorphism of codon 727 of human thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor is associated with toxic multinodular goiter. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;84:3328-3335.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.84.9.5966http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10487707?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Tonacchera M, Chiovato L, Pinchera A, et al. Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules in toxic multinodular goiter share activating thyrotropin receptor mutations with solitary toxic adenoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998;83:492-498.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.83.2.4559http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9467563?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Krohn K, Führer D, Bayer Y, et al. Molecular pathogenesis of euthyroid and toxic multinodular goiter. Endocr Rev. 2005;26:504-524.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/er.2004-0005http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15615818?tool=bestpractice.com观察性证据表明纠正碘缺乏与毒性多结节性甲状腺肿的发病率下降相关。[7]Krohn K, Führer D, Bayer Y, et al. Molecular pathogenesis of euthyroid and toxic multinodular goiter. Endocr Rev. 2005;26:504-524.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/er.2004-0005http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15615818?tool=bestpractice.com
对于有自主功能性结节的患者,碘负荷增加(例如碘化显影剂、胺碘酮或饮食变化)可能引起碘致甲状腺功能亢进症(Jod-Basedow 现象)。