Thyroid Storm Precipitated by Fine-needle Aspiration

Thyroid storm is a life-threatening exacerbation of hyperthyroidism, marked by a sudden surge in thyroid hormone levels that can lead to multiorgan dysfunction and death. Common triggers include medication nonadherence, infections, radioiodine therapy, iodinated contrast, labor, surgery, and trauma. We report a rare case of thyroid storm precipitated by fine-needle aspiration. The patient was successfully managed medically and later underwent surgery after normalization of thyroid function. Clinicians should exercise caution when performing fine-needle aspiration in thyrotoxic patients. It should be performed only in a limited number of cases where there is clinical or ultrasound suspicion of malignancy and after thyroid function tests have normalized.