Subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain) presenting as a painless cold nodule
A 49-yr-old woman presented with a solid, painless, nontender nodule in the left thyroid lobe. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed a solitary cold area in the left lobe and a slightly decreased 24-hr radioactive iodine thyroid uptake (9%). Although there were no specific clinical or biochemical signs suggesting thyroiditis needle aspiration cytology showed the presence of a subacute thyroiditis. Approximately 1 mo later the entire thyroid gland was affected leading to a completely suppressed thyroid radioiodine uptake and elevated serum thyroid hormone concentrations. This case illustrates that in the early phase of the disease, subacute thyroiditis may present as a solitary, painless, cold nodule and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions.
- Research Organization:
- St. Franciscus Hospital, Roosendaal, The Netherlands
- OSTI ID:
- 6125093
- Journal Information:
- J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 28:9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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