A clinico-pathological study of Thyroiditis

Abstract

Thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland due to various causes like autoimmune disorders, infections, drugs, exposure to physical agents, radiation and without any apparent predisposing factors. This leads to progressive inflammation and replacement of thegland by fibrous tissue, if it is chronic. Hence the patient might have initial thyrotoxic phase followed by progressive hypothyroidism. Hence this study was conducted to describe the common causes of thyroiditis in day to day practice. Hashimoto thyroiditis was the most common cause followed by lymphocytic thyroiditis. It was commonly seen in young females. The commonest complaint was swelling, followed by pain. The thyroid was enlarged and tender on palpation in majority of the cases. At the time of presentation, 4 had recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and 1 had dyspnoea. On investigating, 4 patients had Hashi-thyrotoxicosis. Hashimoto patients had hypothyroidism. Those with intractable pain, pressure symptoms, cosmetic reason and lymphoma underwent thyroidectomy. Most common post-operative complications were recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypocalcaemia.