Abstract
Thyroiditis belongs to a heterogeneous group of inflammatory thyroid diseases. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, has an autoimmune pathogenesis: patients can be euthyroid or develop hypothyroidism, but may also experience transient thyrotoxicosis. Silent and postpartum thyroiditis also recognize an autoimmune origin; their clinical course being characterized by transient thyrotoxicosis occurring either sporadically or post-partum. Subacute thyroiditis is a painful, inflammatory disease of viral origin. Acute thyroiditis is a rare, serious, bacterial inflammatory disease. Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by dense thyroid fibrosis. A diffuse thyroid hypoechogenicity is the hallmark of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, due to extensive lymphocytic infiltration of the gland. In postpartum and silent thyroiditis a diffuse or multifocal hypoechogenicity is found, while subacute thyroiditis is characterized by multiple ill-defined and migrating hypoechogenic areas. Both in acute and Riedel's thyroiditis there is marked hypoechogenicity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 301-314 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Rays - International Journal of Radiological Sciences |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Keywords
- Hypoechogenicity
- Hypothyroidism
- Lymphocytic infiltration
- Thyroid ultrasonography
- Thyroiditis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging