Tiroiditis de Riedel, una entidad fácilmente confundible con carcinoma anaplásico tiroideo / Riedel's thyroiditis, an entity easily confused with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: Riedel´s thyroiditis is a thyroid inflammation with invasive fibrosis. CASE REPORT: Female 84 years old, studied by dysphagia to liquids and dysphonia, with cervical mass poorly demarcated and immobile. Computed Tomography (CT) (CT) showed tumor that diverted the trachea and esophagus compressed. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) obtained cells with atypia. Thyroidectomy was performed, appreciating a stony tumor which included the right recurrent laryngeal nerve. Given the high suspicion of thyroid malignancy tracheostomy it was performed. The pathology report as fibrosing Riedel thyroiditis. DISCUSSION: This is the less common type of chronic thyroiditis. Etiology is unknown. The normal thyroid parenchyma is replaced by fibrous connective tissue. Clinically usually a hard mass, fast growing, why is confused with thyroid carcinoma and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It´ss more common in women and is usually bilateral. The CT or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) help assess the extent. Puncturing the mass could give us the diagnosis but is often difficult. Treatment to relieve symptoms or rule out malignancy is surgery. The prognosis is usually good. CONCLUSIONS: Riedel´s thyroiditis is an entity with histopathologic diagnosis essential

La tiroiditis bifásica: un patrón fisiopatológico en las tiroiditis

La disfunción tiroidea es una observación común en el curso evolutivo de las tiroiditis. En las fases avanzadas de la tiroiditis crónica autoinmune es muy frecuente el hallazgo de hipotiroidismo clínico o subclínico, como consecuencia del reemplazo glandular por la fibrosis y atrofia resultantes. El hipotiroidismo permanente también es una secuela común en la tiroiditis silente y poco frecuente en la tiroiditis subaguda. Por otra parte, se conoce como “tiroiditis destructiva”, al proceso inflamatorio tiroideo acompañado de destrucción del epitelio glandular y tirotoxicosis transitoria, que usualmente ocurre en los primeros meses de evolución de las tiroiditis subaguda y silente o, en un porcentaje menor, durante el curso de la tiroiditis crónica autoinmune. Desórdenes que tienen diferente patogénesis, como, la tiroiditis subaguda, vinculada con las infecciones virales, o las tiroiditis silente o posparto y la enfermedad de Hashimoto, reconocidos procesos autoinmunes, son responsables de fenómenos fisiopatológicos similares que dan origen a la “tiroiditis bifásica”. De manera característica, estos casos desarrollan secuencialmente, tirotoxicosis pasajera que va seguida de hipotiroidismo transitorio y recuperación. En dos muestras venezolanas, la tirotoxicosis pasajera y el hipotiroidismo transitorio con el patrón de la tiroiditis bifásica se observó, respectivamente, en 86 % y 27 % de los casos de tiroiditis subaguda y, el patrón bifásico, en los cuatro casos de tiroiditis silente o posparto. En la muestra de tiroiditis crónica autoinmune, no se observó ningún caso de tiroiditis bifásica. Los mecanismos fisiopatológicos de la tiroiditis bifásica son consecuencia directa de la inflamación tiroidea y la autoinmunidad, que también implica a los anticuerpos estimulantes o bloqueadores del receptor de la hormona estimulante de la tiroides.

La observación de este patrón funcional y su reversibilidad, constituye indudablemente un comportamiento sui generis en las enfermedades de las glándulas endocrinas, en las que hiper o hipofunción espontáneas, suelen ocurrir aislada y permanentemente. Por eso, parece justificado presentar sendos casos típicos de tiroiditis subaguda, silente y crónica autoinmune, en los cuales, el patrón de la tiroiditis bifásica fue el hallazgo más relevante de su evolución clínica.

Thyroid dysfunction is commonly observed in the clinical course of thyroiditis. Clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism frequently occurred in chronic autoimmune thyroiditis as a consequence of progressive glandular replacement by fibrosis and atrophy. Also, permanent hypothyroidism is a common sequel of silent thyroiditis, unusual in subacute thyroiditis. Thyroid inflammatory process associated to destruction of glandular epithelium and transitory thyrotoxicosis is known as “destructive thyroiditis”, which frequently occurred in the first months of subacute or silent thyroiditis evolution or, in a little percentage, during the course of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Disorders with different pathogenesis, as subacute thyroiditis which is entailed with viral infections or, silent-postpartum or chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, known autoimmune diseases, are responsible of similarly pathophysiological phenomena which originated “biphasic thyroiditis”. Characteristically, these cases developed sequentially transitory thyrotoxicosis, which is followed by transient hypothyroidism and recovery. In two Venezuelan samples, transitory thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism with biphasic patron were observed, respectively, in 86 % and 27 % of thyroiditis subacute cases and, the biphasic patron, in the four cases with silent or postpartum thyroiditis. In the sample of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, no cases of biphasic thyroiditis were observed.

The pathophysiological mechanisms of biphasic thyroiditis are direct consequence of thyroidal inflammation and autoimmunity, which also imply the effects of stimulating or blocking antibodies for the stimulant thyroid hormone receptor. Undoubtedly, this functional patron and its reversibility, constitutes a sui generis behavior in the endocrine glands diseases, in which spontaneous hyper or hypo function usually occurred isolated and permanently. These reasons justify the report of these typical cases of subacute, silent and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, in which, the patron of biphasic thyroiditis was the most relevant finding of his clinical evolution.

Diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de tiroides en el Centro de Investigaciones Medicoquirúrgicas / Diagnosis and surgical treatment of thyroid cancer in the Centre for Medicosurgical Research

INTRODUCCIÓN. El carcinoma de tiroides es infrecuente, pero en cambio constituye la neoplasia maligna más común del sistema endocrino. Fueron objetivos de esta presentación describir los resultados del diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de tiroides durante un quinquenio, en el Centro de Investigaciones Medicoquirúrgicas, caracterizar diversas variables de la población afectada y determinar la relación entre técnica quirúrgica realizada e índice pronóstico a partir de la edad, metástasis a distancia, extensión de la enfermedad y tamaño del tumor (AGES). MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo con elementos analíticos incorporados, de 52 pacientes operados de cáncer de tiroides en el CIMEQ, entre enero de 2001 y diciembre de 2005. Se aplicó el índice pronóstico AGES para los pacientes con cáncer de tiroides bien diferenciado y se relacionó con la técnica quirúrgica empleada. RESULTADOS. El cáncer de tiroides predominó en el sexo femenino (86,5 por ciento) en las edades entre 29 y 67 años, y en el hombre por encima de los 55 años. La biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina resultó un procedimiento de utilidad en el diagnóstico del cáncer de tiroides, con una alta concordancia con los diagnósticos por congelación y parafina. El carcinoma papilar resultó el más frecuente (71,2 por ciento) y la lesión más asociada, la tiroiditis de Hashimoto. Predominó la cirugía radical en pacientes que requerían cirugía conservadora según el índice pronóstico AGES. Las complicaciones se asociaron a la cirugía radical. CONCLUSIONES. El cáncer de tiroides resulta más frecuente en las mujeres de mediana edad. La biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina cobra valor a la hora de plantear la técnica quirúrgica, teniendo en cuenta el alto índice de concordancia con la biopsia por parafina. El índice pronóstico AGES no siempre fue tomado en cuenta a la hora de elegir la técnica quirúrgica, de ahí que predominaran los procedimientos más radicales(AU)

INTRODUCTION. The thyroid carcinoma is rare; however, it is the most common malignant neoplasia of the endocrine system. The aim of this paper was to describe the results of the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer during a five-year term at the Centre for Medicosurgical Research (CIMEQ, in Spanish), to characterize diverse variables of the affected population, and to determine the relationship between the surgical technique used and the AGES' prognosis index. METHOD. An observational, descriptive and prospective study was conducted with analytical elements obtained from 52 patients operated on of thyroid cancer at CIMEQ from January 2001 to December 2005. The AGES' prognostic index was applied to patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer and it was related to the surgical technique used. RESULTS. Thyorid cancer prevailed in females aged 29-67 (86.5 percent) and in males over 55. The fine needle aspiration biopsy was a useful procedure in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer with a high concordance with the diagnoses confirmed by freezing and paraffin. The papillary carcinoma proved to be the most common (71.2 percent), whereas Hashimoto's thyroiditis was the most associated lesion. Radical surgery predominated in patients that required conservative surgery according to the AGES' prognostic index. The complications were associated with radical surgery. CONCLUSIONS. Thyroid cancer is more frequent in middle aged females. The fine needle aspiration biopsy is very important at the time of recommending the surgical technique, taking into account the high index of concordance with paraffin biopsy. The AGES' prognostic index was not always taken into account for selecting the surgical technique. That's why, it was observed a predominance of the most radical procedures(AU)

Espectro clinicopatológico de las tiroiditis

El espectro clinicopatológico de las tiroiditis abarca, desde la rara tiroiditis aguda o supurativa hasta la más rara tiroiditis de Riedel. Las tiroiditis subaguda y silente (y su variante postpartum) también son enfermedades no comunes, mientras que la tiroiditis crónica autoinmune o enfermedad de Hashimoto resulta la tiroiditis y la enfermedad autoinmune órgano específica más frecuente, responsable de la mayor parte de los casos de hipotiroidismo. Efectivamente, en las áreas geográficas no deficientes en yodo, la mayor parte de los desórdenes tiroideos se deben a enfermedad autoinmune. La autoinmunidad como fenómeno primario juega un papel trascendente en la etiopatogenia de la tiroiditis crónica autoinmune, la tiroiditis silente-postpartum y la tiroiditis de Riedel y, sólo un rol secundario en la tiroiditis subaguda. Posiblemente, las infecciones virales causan la tiroiditis subaguda, mientras que los gérmenes piógenos y hongos son responsables de la tiroiditis supurativa. Las tiroiditis autoinmunes y la tiroiditis subaguda se acompañan comúnmente de disfunción tiroidea. Se conoce como “tiroiditis destructiva” al proceso inflamatorio tiroideo acompañado de destrucción y tirotoxicosis transitoria.

En estos casos, la disfunción tiroidea adopta usualmente el patrón de “tiroiditis bifásica”, en la que secuencialmente, la tirotoxicosis pasajera va seguida de hipotiroidismo transitorio y recuperación. Desórdenes con diferente etiopatogenia, como la tiroiditis subaguda, la tiroiditis silente y la enfermedad de Hashimoto, son responsables de los fenómenos fisiopatológicos similares que dan origen a la tiroiditis bifásica. El dolor en la tiroides adquiere relevancia en la tiroiditis subaguda y en la tiroiditis supurativa y, sólo raramente, está presente en la tiroiditis silente o en la exacerbación aguda de la enfermedad de Hashimoto. En la mayor parte de los casos, es posible establecer el diagnóstico de la tiroiditis mediante la historia clínica, las pruebas de función tiroidea y los estudios isotópicos y ecosonográficos. La biopsia tiroidea por aspiración con aguja fina permite resolver los casos dudosos. Esta revisión del “Espectro clínico-patológico de las tiroiditis”, resulta una síntesis de la información bibliográfica y la experiencia lograda con las tiroiditis a través de un enfoque clínico integral.

Clinical-pathological spectrum of thyroiditis comprises from the rare acute o suppurative thyroiditis as far as the rarest Rieldel’s thyroiditis. Also, subacute and silent thyroiditis (and it postpartum variant) are non common diseases, while autoimmune chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease results the most frequent thyroiditis and organ-specific autoimmune disorder, that is responsible for most part of hypothyroidism cases. Effectively, in iodine-replete geographic areas, most persons with thyroid disorders have autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity as primary phenomenon plays a transcendent role in etiopathogeny of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, silent-postpartum thyroiditis and Riedel’s thyroiditis and only a secondary role in subacute thyroiditis. Probably, viral infections cause subacute thyroiditis, while pyogenic germs and fungus are responsible for suppurative thyroiditis. Commonly, autoimmune and subacute thyroiditis are associated with thyroid dysfunction. It is known as “destructive thyroiditis”, the thyroidal inflammatory process that is joined to destruction and transient thyrotoxicosis.

Usually, thyroid dysfunction in these cases adopt “biphasic thyroiditis” pattern, in which sequentially, transient thyrotoxicosis is followed by transient hypothyroidism and recovery. Disorders with different etiopathogeny as subacute thyroiditis, silent thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are responsible of similarly physiopathologic phenomenons that originated biphasic thyroiditis. Pain in the thyroidal gland is relevant in subacute and suppurative thyroiditis and, rarely is present in silent thyroiditis or in acute exacerbation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In most of the cases, it is possible to establish the diagnosis of thyroiditis through clinical history, thyroidal function tests, isotopic studies and ecosonography. Thyroid fine needle biopsy resolves doubtful cases. This review about “Clinical-pathological spectrum of thyroiditis”, results from the synthesis of bibliographic information and the experience obtained with thyroiditis through and integral clinic focus.

Morphological evaluation of non neoplastic lesions of the thyroid gland

This study was conducted to see the frequency of non neoplastic lesions of thyroid glands in patients who underwent thyroid surgery at Mayo hospital, Lahore. It was a descriptive cross sectional study. It was a retrospective and prospective study commencing from Ist July 1999 to 30th June 2002 and was conducted at Pathology Department King Edward Medical University, Lahore. All thyroid samples submitted and reported at the Department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore during a three year period commencing from Ist July 1999 to 30th June 2002 were included in this study. Out of the total number of 1136 thyroid surgical specimens, 855 specimens [75.26%] were shown to comprise of non-neoplastic lesions and were more common in females [77.2%] as compared to males [22.8%] giving a male to female ratio of 1:3.4. Regarding non neoplastic lesions maximum comprised of diffuse[74%] and multi nodular goiters [16%]. Others consisted of inflammatory conditions [5%], hyperplastic nodules[4%] and simple colloid filled cysts 1%. Inflammatory conditions included Hashimotos' thyroiditis [67.3%] deQuervain's thyroiditis [granulomatous thyroiditis] [16.3%], Lymphocytic thyroiditis [11.7%], and Riedel's thyroiditis[4.7%]. Non neoplastic thyroid lesions are more common than neoplastic lesions, especially in females. The frequency of diffuse colloid goiter was very high, while among inflammatory lesions Hashimotos' thyroiditis was the commonest lesion. Most of the cases of hypothyroidism were associated with iodine deficiency

Thyroid dysfunction in type 2 diabetes

The association between diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders was always a matter of medical interest. The explanation of that association is still debatable whether through metabolic, immune, vascular or multifactorial. The aim of the present study was to identify subjects at risk of clinical or subclinical thyroid dysfunction by other investigation modalities in diabetics. Forty seven type 2 diabetic patients 21 men and 26 women with age xx ranging from 40-70 years and 20, age, sex and weight matched healthy control subjects were subjected to: estimation of fasting, postprandial plasma glucose. Estimation of serum free T3 and T4 and TSH by radioimmunoassay. Thyroid scan dynamic and static using technetium[99m]. Thyroid colour coded duplex Doppler study of the inferior thyroid arteries. Exclusion criteria included drugs that interfere with thyroid functions. As regards Technetium thyroid scan: the perfusion index [PERI] was significantly higher in patients compared to control subjects [p-value < 0.009]. A negative correlation was found between the duration of DM and the functional index which was statistically significant in diabetic women [r = -0.4264, p=0.03]. Thirty percent of patients were detected to have dynamic thyroid scan characteristics of thyroiditis with marked increase of the perfusion index, marked decrease of the functional index till zero and replacement of slope II and III with a plateau. As regard duplex Doppler Results: the mean pulsatility [PI] and resistivity [RI] indices were found to be higher in patients with thyroiditis [as evident by thyroid scan]. The peak systolic, diastolic, end diastolic and mean velocities where statistically lower in those patients compared to control. The mean value of pulsatility and resistivity indices were significantly higher in patients with subclinical hypothyroid state than control subjects, whereas, thyroid gland volume, blood flow and blood velocities showed no statistically significant difference. Tc[99m] dynamic thyroid scan and duplex Doppler sonography detected hypofunction and abnormal perfusion while the thyroid hormones were still on the low normal side. So, it is recommended to use these investigation tools in following up patients with long standing diabetes specially in those who show clinical or laboratory evidence of thyroiditis, [such as neck pain, thyroid swelling or elevated ESR]. A condition which is not uncommon in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Revisäo de 2.564 punçöes aspirativas de tireóide: ênfase em doenças näo-neoplásticas / Review of 2564 fine needle aspiration of thyroid: with emphasis on non-neoplastic disease

Mediante estudo retrospectivo, os autores revisaram 2.564 casos de punçäo aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) da glândula tireóide de pacientes do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu-UNESP registrados entre 1989 e 1995. Foram observados 1.911 casos de diagnósticos näo-neoplásticos, 134 de neoplásticos e 519 de materiais inadequados ao dagnóstico citológico, sendo que, dentro do critério "näo-neoplástico", foram encontrados 1.244 diagnósticos de Bócio Colóide, 337 de Tireoidites e 323 de Doença de Graves. A PAAF mostrou ser um método diagnóstico útil também nas doenças tireóideas näo-neoplásticas, incluindo os processos difusos como as Tireoidites e a Doença de Graves

Carcinoma papilar esclerosante de tiroides: variedad esclerosante difusa: a propósito de un caso / Papillary sclerosing carcinoam of the thyroid gland: diffuse sclerosing variant: apropos of a case

Presentamos una variedad particular de carcinoma papilar de tiroides llamada Carcinoma Papilar Difusante Esclerosante. Esta lesión tiene diferencias de presentación clínica y anatomopatológica que permiten distinguirla. La importancia práctica de su diagnóstico radica en su tratamiento particularmente agresivo y su peor pronóstico comparado con las otras variedades de carcinoma papilar de tiroides

Carcinoma papilífero da tireóide: revisäo anatomopatológica / Papillory carcinoma of the thyroid: revision

O A. faz consideraçöes gerais a propósito da história natural do câncer da tireóide, em particular sobre questöes epidemiológicas e prognósticas. Por fim, discute os aspectos histopatológicos mais salientes sobre as variantes morfológicas do carcinoma papilífero

Comparaçäo citopatológica e histopatológica na tiroidite subaguda: apresentaçäo de um caso / Citopathological and histopathological comparison in subacute thyroiditis: a case report

Relata-se um caso de tiroidite subaguda ou tiroidite de De Quervain diagnosticada pelo método da citopatologia por punçäo aspirativa com agulha fina. Demonstra-se uma estreita correlaçäo entre os achados citopatológicos e os aspectos histopatológicos, opinando sobre a validade do método para uso na rotina médica. Acrescentam-se algumas consideraçöes sobre a fisiopatologia, etiologia, quadro clínico, laboratorial da doença, os quais sendo vistos em conjunto com o método citopatológico, podem levar a um diagnóstico de certeza. Reafirma-se a importância da citopatologia no controle de massas da glândula tireóide

Tiroiditis de Riedel: presentación de un caso / Riedel's thyroiditis: report of a case

Se realiza una breve revisión de la enfermedad así como su frecuencia en las estadísticas médicas internacionales. Se presenta un caso con buena evolución posterior y se destaca en las conclusiones la importancia del estudio histológico para el diagnóstico definitivo