THYROIDITIS: COMPLEX ENIGMA OR ENIGMATIC COMPLEXITY! THE USEFULNESS OF ULTRASOUND IN THE DIAGNOSTIC ALGORITHM. AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW.

Abstract

Thyroiditis or inflammation of the thyroid can happen due to a very diverse etiology. Thyroiditis can be painless or painful, be associated with goiter or not, the patient might remain euthyroid or become thyrotoxic, hypothyroid or cycle through all possible functional states. The condition might resolve or the patient rendered permanently affected. With such complex presentations, it is no surprise that the diagnosis remains difficult in many cases requiring close attention to history, clinical examination and laboratory tests including those for thyroid function, antibodies and imaging. Cytology or even histopathology is occasionally needed too. This paper reviews the topic with emphasis on ultrasound findings in major types of thyroiditides and the usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnostic workup of the condition.

Keywords. Thyroiditis, Thyroid, Ultrasound, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, de Quervain thyroiditis, Riedel’s struma.