Riedel Thyroiditis

Introduction

• Thyroid tissue replaced by fibrous tissue
  • can result in hypothyroidism
  • histologically characterized by a dense fibroinflammatory infiltrate 
  • etiology unknown
• thought to be a manifestation of a systemic, fibroinflammatory disease

Presentation

• Physical exam
  • presents with fixed, hard goiter
• painless on palpation

Treatment

• Medical
  • corticosteroids
• tamoxifen

Prognosis, Prevention, and Comlications

• Fibrosis may extend to locally to the trachea, parathyroid glands, and mediastinum
  • may result in obstruction, dyspnea, hoarseness and hypoparathyroidism