Diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT), and the treatment of CLT companied with other thyroid diseases. Methods Clinical data of 63 cases of CLT were analyzed retrospectively. Results 26 cases were diagnosed by non-operative methods (11 cases by fine needle aspiration biopsy, FNAB). The rest of 37 cases were operated on because of misdiagnosis as other thyroid disease and then comfirmed as CLT by pathology. Of them, 2 were companied with nodular goiter, 6 with Graves' disease, 1 with thyroid adenoma and 2 with carcinoma, respectively. 19 cases were treated by thyroixine, 3 were not treated, 4 treated by operation after thyioxine managment and 37 were treated by operation. Non-operation group had rather satisfied effect in short-term period. 29 cases (78.4%) in operation group were followed up for 1 to 6 years, and 5 cases had hypothyroidism. Conclusions It is necessary to have complete serum immunologic examination and FNAB for suspect patients.They have to be examined carefully in order to avoid omitting complications and incsease the rate of diagnosis.Non-operative treatment is the major therapy of CLT. If CLT is companied with other thyroid disease, operation or non- operation should be adopted according to the pathological type.