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Thyroiditis
Last reviewed: 23.11.2021
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The term "thyroiditis" combines diseases of the thyroid gland, differing in etiology, pathogenesis, an obligatory component of which is inflammation. With different pathogenesis, the diseases have a clinically similar symptomatology, which makes it difficult in some cases to make differential diagnosis.
The existing classifications of thyroiditis are based either on pathomorphological changes or on clinical manifestations. Both of them have a number of shortcomings. For practical doctors it is more appropriate to use a classification that takes into account the features of the pathogenesis and clinical course proposed by I. Herrman in 1980:
- acute thyroiditis (diffuse or focal):
- subacute thyroiditis :
- diffuse;
- focal;
- chronic thyroiditis:
- autoimmune thyroiditis (atrophic form);
- fibro-invasive (Riedel);
- specific thyroiditis (tuberculosis, syphilitic, septicomycotic).
Specific thyroiditis in other classifications are classified as chronic purulent.
Goiter Riedel is currently referred to as systemic connective tissue diseases.