4. Thyroiditis Flashcards
Definition of thyroiditis
Inflammatory conditions of the thyroid gland
Types of thyroiditis
- Subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis
- Subacute lymphocytic (painless) thyroiditis
- Reidel thyroiditis
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
- Graves disease
What is Subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis all known as?
DeQuervain thyroiditis
Epidemiology & associations with Subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis
- Female > male
- Most common between ages 40 & 50
- Viral infections (mumps, coxsackievirus, adenovirus)
Pathogenesis of Subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis
- Inciting agent is probably a viral infection or post-viral inflammatory process which damages thyroid follicular cells, releasing a normally sequestered antigen
- This incites cytotoxic T cell mediated injury
Morphology of subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis
- [Grossly]
- Enlarged firm thyroid gland which may be uni or bilateral
- Patchy appearance (pale yellowish areas intervening with normal brown parenchyma) - [Histologically]
- Initially, neutrophilic infiltrate, microabscesses
- Later on, mononuclear infiltrate (lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes) around damaged follicles
- Multinucleated giant cells engulfing pools of colloid
- Note that the picture varies with the stage & area sampled (as inflammation affects different parts of the gland at different points in time)
Clinical features of subacute (granulomatous) thyroiditis
- Sudden/gradual presentation of symptoms
- Painful goitre (jaw, throat, ears, occasional nodule)
- Systemic: fever, malaise, anorexia, myalgia
- Period of disease & recovery lasts 14 weeks
- Usually self-limiting (not self-perpetuating) - Laboratory test
- Initial 2-6 weeks: transient mild hyperthyroidism (high T3 & T4, low TSH) due to released of preformed colloid following follicular damage
- Later 2-8 weeks: transient asymptomatic hypothyroidism
- Radioiodine uptake diminished
Epidemiology & Associations of Subacute Lymphocytic (Painless) Thyroiditis
- Female > male
2. Most common in middle age women, post-partum
Pathogenesis of Subacute Lymphocytic (Painless) Thyroiditis
Possibly autoimmune etiology
- Occasionally evolves into overt autoimmune disease
Morphology of Subacute Lymphocytic (Painless) Thyroiditis
- Grossly:
- Normal/minimal diffuse enlargement - Histologically:
- Hyperplastic reactive lymphoid nodules
- No Hurthle cell change or fibrosis (distinguishing factor from Hashimoto thyroiditis)
Clinical features of Subacute Lymphocytic (Painless) Thyroiditis
- Mild diffuse goitre (condition lasts 2-8 weeks in total)
2. Hyperthyroidism lasting 1-2 weeks
Pathogenesis of Reidel thyroiditis
Unknown etiology (postulated to be autoimmune)
Clinical Features of Reidel thyroiditis
Extensive fibrosis of thyroid & surrounding structures in the neck, presenting as a hard fixed mass in the neck
- Can mimic thyroid carcinoma
Definition of Hashimoto thyroiditis
Autoimmune destruction of thyroid leading to gradual thyroid failure
Epidemiology & Associations with Hashimoto thyroiditis
- Female > male (females 10-20x more)
- Most common between ages of 45 & 65
- HLA-DR3, HLA-DR5 (weak association)