Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland that may be painful and tender when caused by infection, radiation, or trauma, or painless when caused by autoimmune conditions, medications, or an idiopathic fibrotic process. the most common forms are hashimoto’s disease, subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis, subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis, and drug-induced thyroiditis (caused by amiodarone, interferon-alfa, interleukin-2, or lithium). patients may have euthyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism. diagnosis is by clinical findings, including the presence or absence of pain, tenderness, and autoantibodies. treatment primarily is directed at symptomatic relief of thyroid pain and tenderness and restoration of euthyroidism. in this article we review the diagnosis and treatment of the different types of thyroiditis.