Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis comprises a diverse group of disorders that are among the most common endocrine abnormalities encountered in clinical practice. These disorders range from the extremely common chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) to the extremely rare invasive fibrous thyroiditis (Riedel’s thyroiditis). Clinical presentations are also diverse, ranging from an incidental finding of a goitre to potentially life-threatening illness, from hypothyroidism to thyrotoxicosis. This chapter reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, infectious thyroiditis, and sclerosing thyroiditis (Riedel’s thyroiditis, which may be linked to immunoglobulin G4-related disease).