Lymphocytic thyroiditis

Abstract

Sixty five cases of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis were included in the study. Most of the study subjects were females [61 cases (94%)] and male to female ratio was 1:15. The most common age group was ? 40 years (52 cases, 80%). Grade I lymphocytic thyroiditis was observed in seventeen (17 cases, 26%) cases, Grade II in twenty eight cases (28 cases, 43.07%) and Grade III thyroiditis was seen in twenty (20 cases, 31%) cases. Anti-TPO and TSH values were increased in 95% (19/20) of cases with grade 3 lymphoid infiltrate, 92.8% (26/28) of cases with grade 2, and 94.1% (16/17) of cases with grade 1. The diagnosis of Hashimoto Thyroiditis should be based on a multidisciplinary approach wherein clinical, radiological, biochemical, cytological, and radionuclide parameters are taken into consideration. However, in spite of the availability of different diagnostic modalities, demonstration of lymphocytic infiltration on cytologic smears still remains the gold standard.