Paediatric ImagingThyroiditis
an organ specific autoimmune disease primarily affecting adults and girls and characterized by lymphocytic
infiltration of the
thyroid gland and atrophy and
fibrosis of the follicles. Most affected children are euthyroid with normal
thyroid function tests. It is the commonest cause of a diffusely enlarged
thyroid gland in childhood. At
ultrasound the gland is diffusely hypoechoic and enlarged.
Cervical lymphadenopathy may occur.
SM