THYROID CRISES

Thyroid storm is an acute exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis that may lead to irreversible cardiovascular collapse and death. Myxedema coma is the endstage of untreated myxedema, which often occurs in elderly women with a history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis or previous radioiodine treatment or thyroid surgery. This article outlines the method of diagnosis and the plan of treatment necessary to manage these critical illnesses.