Head and Neck ImagingRiedel's thyroiditis
rare disease characterised by
infiltration of the
thyroid gland
and surrounding structures by dense fibrotic tissue. The
fibrosis is associated with a lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate. The histological findings are similar to
retroperitoneal fibrosis
. The disease may be confined to the neck, or associated with fibrotic lesions in other locations, such as the
mediastinal or retroperitoneal area (
multifocal fibrosclerosis
).
The disease has a female preponderance. Usually, patients present with a growing
goitre
and breathing difficulties. Clinically, the mass has a very hard consistency, and is fixed to the neighbouring structures, resembling a
malignant tumour.
CT and MR studies shows an enlarged and hypo-enhancing
thyroid gland with tracheal and/or esophageal compression. Invasion of nearby soft tissues may be seen (
Fig. 1). The
lesion appears hypo-echogenic on
ultrasound studies.
RH
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Already registered? Enter your e-mail in the window below.Re-registerFig. 01a
Contrast-enhanced axial CT-images.
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Riedel's thyroiditis, Fig. 01a (a) | | Riedel's thyroiditis, Fig. 01b (b) | |