Current Concepts of Thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis associated with Chlamydia Psittaci infection

“…Increases in viral antibody titres are noted in a substantial number of patients, and occasionally viruses have been cultured from affected tissue. The viruses most frequently implicated include mumps, measles, influenza, Epstein-Barr, Coxsackie and adenovirus (Levine, 1983). Subacute thyroiditis has also been described in a patient with Q fever by Greene (1971).…”

“…Subacute thyroiditis is generally believed to be of viral origin and several viruses have been implicated in its aetiology (Levine, 1983). A search of the world literature over the past 20 years did not reveal any previously reported cases associated with chlamydial infection.…”

Cytological diagnosis of paucicellular variant of anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid: report of two cases

“…The paucicellular variant of ATC is a rapidly progressive, infiltrative lesion showing extensive areas of infarction and very few cellular areas 6 . Aspiration yields scanty cellular material and may have to be repeated 6,16 . Areas of spindle cells having bland nuclei are common and may be mistaken for myofibroblasts.…”

“…Areas of spindle cells having bland nuclei are common and may be mistaken for myofibroblasts. However, some areas with cells displaying more obvious pleomorphism, atypia and abnormal mitoses are evident on careful search 16 . Giant and/or spindle cells with marked nuclear pleomorphism, a variable amount of cytoplasm and multilobated, single or multiple nuclei with coarse chromatin, may be seen 11,12 .…”

Autoimmune thyroid disease and pregnancy.

“…'8 19 The histological appearances of the thyroid and serological changes favour an autoimmune origin, a view supported by the association of the syndrome with HLA-DR3 (as seen in Graves' disease and atrophic thyroiditis) and HLA-DR5 (as seen in Hashimoto's disease).20 Plainly patients with postpartum thyroid dysfunction go unrecognised, though sporadic cases of transient hypothyroidism are now being seen in Britain. Their clinical implications are uncertain; the condition is often self limiting, but it may herald later, more overt manifestations of thyroid disease.…”