Thyroiditis and Thyroid Cancer Flashcards
Define thyroiditis
- Inflammation of thyroid gland
2. Caused by an attack on the thyroid, resulting in inflammation & damage to the thyroid cells
What are the types of thyroiditis?
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Painful Subacute Thyroiditis
- Nonpainful Subacute Thyroiditis
- Rare Thyroiditis
A. Riedel’s
B. Suppurative
What is the most common form of thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
What are the painful subacute thyroiditis?
- De Quervain’s thyroiditis *
- Traumatic or palpation induced thyroiditis*
- Radiation-induced thyroiditis*
A. 2° to RAI in Graves’ Dz Tx
What are the nonpainful subacute thyroiditis?
- Postpartum thyroiditis
- Drug-induced thyroiditis
A. Amiodarone (37% iodine)
What are the rare thryoiditises?
1. Riedel's thyroiditis A. Slow enlarging mass mistaken for CA 2. Suppurative or Infectious thyroiditis* A. Acute or chronic B. More common in children
define subacute thyroiditis
Self-limiting inflammation of thyroid
What causes subacute thyroiditis? What is the progression?
1. Usually 2° to a virus A. Initially hyperthyroid labs w/ or w/o hyperthyroid sx’s B. Followed by hypothyroid labs & sx’s C. Then euthyroid state D. Phases occur over 6-9 mos
What are the characteristics of postpartum thyroiditis?
- Painless subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis ( ↑, ↓, → thyroid)
- Results from modifications to immune system during pregnancy
- Type I DM 3x greater risk of development
- Considered variant of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
What is the progression of postpartum thyroiditis?
- Normally self-limiting, but if anti-Thyroid Ab are present (20%), ↑ risk of permanent hypothyroidism
- Painless thyroiditis occurs w/in 1 yr after childbirth or TOP (termination of pregnancy)
A. Sx’s can be subtle & underdiagnosed
What is De Quervain’s thyroiditis also called?
- Painful Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis
2. Giant Cell Thyroiditis
What are the characteristics of De Quervain’s thyroiditis?
- Acute painful thyroiditis, often w/ dysphagia
- F > M
- 40’s - 50’s
What are the sxs of De Quervain’s thyroiditis?
- Hx viral URI (2-8 wks prior)
- Low-grade fever & fatigue
- Neck pain, malaise & myalgias
- Painful goiter
A. Radiates to jaw/ear
B. Aggravated by swallowing/turning head
What are the diagnostic studies for subacute thyroidits?
- Free T4, TSH
A. Results depend on stage of presentation of pt - ↑ ESR
- ↑ WBC w/ L shift
A. Subacute & suppurative thyroiditis - ↑ Automicrosomal Ab
A. 50-80% in postpartum thyroiditis - ↑Serum thyroglobulin levels (nonspecific)
A. Painful subacute & postpartum thyroiditis - Color-flow Doppler U/S
A. Thyroiditis normal or ↓ vascularity vs ↑ in Graves’ Dz - ↓ Radioactive Iodine (RAI) uptake vs ↑ uptake in Graves’ Dz
How is subacute thyroiditis treated?
- Postpartum thyroiditis
A. Majority do not need Tx but need to monitor FT4 and TSH - B-blockers
A. PRN hyperthyroid sx’s - NSAID’s (first) or Corticosteroids (refractory): treat inflammation
A. Painful thyroiditis - IV Antibx & Abscess I&D if needed in suppurative
- Thyroid hormone replacement
A. Levothyroxine qd if permanent
B. Short term Tx if hypothyroid sx’s