Study note
SurgeryThe thyroid gland

Hashimoto’s chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis

THE CONTEXT
Hashimoto’s disease is a common autoimmune thyroiditis that may present with goitre or thyroid failure.

Clinical presentation and antibodies

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Raised titres of thyroid antibodies usually accompany the condition.
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The goitre may be diffuse or nodular and can have a characteristic bosselated feel, meaning multiple small protuberances.
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Patients may present with established or subclinical thyroid failure. Diagnosis often follows investigation of a discrete thyroid swelling.

Histology and end stage

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Features of chronic lymphocytic focal thyroiditis are commonly found histologically alongside other thyroid diseases, notably toxic goitre.
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Primary myxoedema without detectable thyroid enlargement represents the end stage of the pathological process.
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