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Subacute thyroiditis: Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of 14 cases presenting with thyroid nodules
Author(s) -
Shabb Nina S.,
Salti Ibrahim
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.20395
Subject(s) - medicine , fine needle aspiration , thyroid , pathology , cytology , thyroid nodules , malignancy , thyroiditis , giant cell , subacute thyroiditis , biopsy
Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is usually diagnosed clinically without the need for fine‐needle aspiration. The cytologic literature on this condition is therefore rare. We report on 14 cases of SAT presenting with thyroid nodules. The majority of patients were women with a mean age of 46 yr. All had pain/tenderness in the thyroid area accompanied by fever or an elevated ESR. The salient cytologic features included cellular smears; multinucleated giant cells in 100% of cases, some ingesting colloid or neutrophils; fibrous fragments with enmeshed inflammatory cells were a constant feature; follicular cells were scant to absent in most cases. Granulomas were rare. Colloid, when present was thick, with central cracks and frayed edges. One case was suspicious for malignancy. We conclude that the cytologic features of SAT are predictable, particularly, in the appropriate clinical setting. FNA is also helpful in ruling out concomitant neoplastic conditions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:18‐23. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.