Vitiligo, autoimmune thyroiditis: a rare thyroid cancer arising with bone metastates on maxillofacial area

An association between vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disorders had previo usly been postulated. Thyroid disorders were found in 18.5% of 15,126 patie nts with vitiligo, on the basis of the anamnestic data. Then, we investigat ed 255 healthy relatives in whom we tested only T3, T4 and TSH. With the im munological investigation we detected a higher incidence of TMA in vitiligo patients and in the family members. Therefore, on the basis of the immunol ogic and thyroid pathology functional data, we observed a thyroid pathology in 25% of the 890 vitiligo patients and in 21.1% of their first degree rel atives. Then, clinical observation enabled to discover that 3 of 15,126 patients ha d undergone exeresis for a thyroid carcinoma and in the 890 vitiligo patien ts, who had undergone particular investigations, we found a thyroid carcino ma in 3 subjects. In one case lymphnodal involvement and bone metastases in the maxillary district were found. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the incidence of thyrosis and of th yroid carcinoma in vitiligo patients observed for 20 years.