Painless lymphocytic thyroiditis - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Painless lymphocytic thyroiditis, known more simply as painless thyroiditis or silent thyroiditis, is an autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the thyroid gland causing release of thyroid hormones and transient thyrotoxicosis. This is frequently followed by a hypothyroid phase before recovery of normal thyroid function. However, for some patients, hypothyroidism is permanent.
Thyroiditis may occur sporadically, postpartum, during drug treatment or radiation therapy, or as the result of bacterial or viral infection.
The diagnosis can be confirmed by a 4-, 6-, or 24-hour radioiodine uptake of <1% during the hyperthyroid phase of the illness.
Treatment, if needed, includes beta-blockers for the hyperthyroid phase and levothyroxine for the hypothyroid phase of the illness.

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Muller I, Moran C, Lecumberri B, et al. 2019 European Thyroid Association guidelines on the management of thyroid dysfunction following immune reconstitution therapy. Eur Thyroid J. 2019 Jul;8(4):173-85.[Abstract][Full Text]
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Thyroid disease: assessment and management. Oct 2023 [internet publication]. [Full Text]
Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al. 2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid. 2016 Oct;26(10):1343-421.[Abstract][Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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