A Case of Painful Hashimoto Thyroiditis that Mimicked Subacute Thyroiditis
- Author:
Hye Mi SEO
1
;
Miyeon KIM
;
Jaeseok BAE
;
Jo Heon KIM
;
Jeong Won LEE
;
Sang Ah LEE
;
Gwanpyo KOH
;
Dae Ho LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Hashimoto thyroiditis; Subacute thyroiditis
- MeSH: Aged; Biopsy; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Blood Sedimentation; Epithelial Cells; Female; Fever; Goiter; Hashimoto Disease; Humans; Hydrazines; Hypothyroidism; Lymphocytes; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; Thyroid Gland; Thyroiditis, Subacute; Thyrotoxicosis; Thyroxine
- From:Chonnam Medical Journal 2012;48(1):69-72
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder that usually presents as a diffuse, nontender goiter, whereas subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by tender thyroid enlargement, transient thyrotoxicosis, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Very rarely, patients with HT can present with painful, tender goiter or fever, a mimic of SAT. We report a case of painful HT in a 68-year-old woman who presented with pain and tenderness in a chronic goiter. Her ESR was definitely elevated and her thyroid laboratory tests suggested subclinical hypothyroidism of autoimmune origin. (99m)Tc pertechnetate uptake was markedly decreased. Fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed reactive and polymorphous lymphoid cells and occasional epithelial cells with Hurthle cell changes. Her clinical symptoms showed a dramatic response to glucocorticoid treatment. She became hypothyroid finally and is now on levothyroxine therapy.
