The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Painful Hashimoto thyroiditis (pHT) is a rare diagnosis, and optimal treatment remains unclear. To better characterize pHT, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science indexes were searched for case reports or case series reporting pHT, published between 1951 and February 2019. Seventy cases reported in 24 publications were identified. Female predominance (91.4%) and a median age of 39.00 years (interquartile range, 32.50-49.75 years) were observed. Among reported cases, 50.8% had known thyroid disease (including Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease, and seronegative goiters), 83.3% had positive antithyroid peroxidase antibodies, and 71.2% had antithyroglobulin antibodies. Most cases did not have preceding upper respiratory tract symptoms or leukocytosis. Ultrasound features were consistent with Hashimoto thyroiditis. Thyroid function at initial presentation was hypothyroid (35.9%), euthyroid (28.1%), or thyrotoxic (35.9%). Cases evolved into hypothyroidism (55.3%) and euthyroidism (44.7%), whereas none became hyperthyroid after medical treatment. Thyroid size usually decreased after medical treatment. Most cases were empirically treated as subacute thyroiditis with corticosteroids, levothyroxine, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, no therapy provided sustained pain resolution. In subgroup analysis, low-dose oral prednisone (<25 mg/d) and intrathyroidal corticosteroid injection showed more favorable outcomes. Total thyroidectomy yielded 100% sustained pain resolution. Diagnosis of pHT is based on clinical evidence of Hashimoto thyroiditis and recurrent thyroid pain after medical treatment. The reference standard of diagnosis is pathology. Total thyroidectomy or intrathyroidal glucocorticoid injection should be considered if low-dose oral prednisone fails to achieve pain control.

Objective: Painful Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is a rare HT variant characterized by neck pain. The clinical differentiation between painful HT and subacute thyroiditis is challenging, as the diagnosis cannot be confirmed without histopathological evidence. Here we present a patient who had anterior neck pain who was diagnosed with HT. Methods: We present the patient's clinical examinations and laboratory findings (white blood cell count, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, thyroid peroxidase antibody, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Ultrasound images of the thyroid gland and pathology images representative of marked HT with positive IgG4 immunohistochemical stain after thyroidectomy are also presented. Results: A 42-year-old female with a 3-year history of HT developed recurrent anterior neck pain with bilateral radiation to the ears as well as a tender, enlarging thyroid goiter. She had no signs of fever or a preceding infection of the upper respiratory tract. Her pain was only temporarily alleviated by oral corticosteroids. According to the serial ultrasound records, both thyroid lobes decreased in size after 2 pain episodes. She eventually underwent total thyroidectomy and remained pain-free for 1.5 years, up to the last office follow-up visit. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of HT. Conclusion: In patients with HT, recurrent thyroid pain despite steroid treatment is the clinical hallmark of diagnosis of painful HT. The reference standard of diagnosis is pathology. Thyroidectomy may be considered after recurrent painful episodes.