the thyroid tissue remnant found in the first patient during a follow-up iodine-123 thyroid scan; the remnant could be
responsible for persistently elevated antithyroid antibodies. The degree or pattern of preoperative antithyroid antibody
elevation does not seem to be predictive of postoperative response. Thyroidectomy is a reasonable treatment option
for the severely symptomatic patient who has failed medical therapy with steroids, IVIG, and plasmapharesis.