Cytomorphologic spectrum of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its clinical correlation: A retrospective study of 52 patients

Abstract

Background:Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease and it is more prevalent in Asians. The incidence of HT seems to be increasing in the recent times. It is one of the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The purpose of this study is to review the cytomorphologic spectrum of HT and correlate it with clinical findings including thyroid function and antibody profile.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) features of 52 HT patients. Based on cytomorphologic features patients were categorized into three groups. Clinical findings including thyroid function and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody profile were correlated with cytomorphologic features in all three groups.Results:Majority of the patients were females and in 2nd, 3rd and 4th decades. Diffuse goiter and thyroid hypofunction were the common findings. Significant number of patients had thyroid hyperfunction. Increased lymphocytes on the background and lymphocytic infiltration of thyroid follicular cell clusters in cytology smears were diagnostic of HT. The 32 patients showed elevated titers of TPO antibodies. In the early stages and mild form of the disease, results of thyroid function and anti TPO antibodies are quite variable.Conclusions:HT is a disease of young and middle age and mostly occur in females. Clinical findings alone may not be adequate for definitive diagnosis. FNA is the gold standard for diagnosis. In the presence of abundant colloid, follicular hyperplasia or co-existing neoplasm, careful interpretation of cytology smears should be done. Aspiration from more than one site minimizes the diagnostic pitfalls.

Cytomorphological Grading in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - A Pioneer Study

“…(4) It is more common in middle age and young females in our study in 3 rd and 4 th decade similar to S Shirish et al 2014. (2) Usually, it presents as a diffuse enlargement of thyroid gland firm in consistency, moves with deglutition and less frequently as nodular. (8) Similarly, we also noticed 173 cases of HT with diffuse enlargement and 6 cases presented as nodular.…”

“…It is more common in females with peak age incidence 30-50 years. (2) HT was thought to be an uncommon disease in the past, and the diagnosis was often made by Histopathological examination of the resected thyroids or biopsied thyroid tissue. Increased diagnostic modalities lead to more recognition of disease by fine needle aspiration.…”

A case with atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis-related hypothyroidism causing multisystem involvement in early childhood

“…The etiology and pathogenesis are not entirely clear in AAT cases with negative TSHR Abs, as in our case 1,2 . Atrophic autoimmune thyroiditisrelated hypothyroidism in early childhood can be overlooked as there is no goiter 2,11 . Atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis-related severe hypothyroidism was also overlooked in our case until complications occurred.…”

Surgical management of neck pain and headache associated with pediatric hashimoto's thyroiditis

“…Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune‐mediated inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland and is the most common cause of pediatric thyroid disease in iodine‐replete regions of the world . HT can manifest in a variety of ways.…”

“…Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune-mediated inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland and is the most common cause of pediatric thyroid disease in iodine-replete regions of the world. 1 HT can manifest in a variety of ways. In children, the most common presentation is a diffuse, painless enlargement of the thyroid along with euthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism.…”