Monday, January 20, 2014

Image of the Week 1/21/2014





A female presents with a painless goiter on her neck. What might be your differential diagnosis?

1 comment:

  1. A painless goiter and hypothyroidism are most often caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the thyroid gland, but may also be caused by the following:

    ▪ Environmental goitrogens (e.g., excess iodine, foods such as cassava, cabbage, and soybeans)
    ▪ Iodine deficiency

    Painless goiter and hyperthyroidism may be caused by the following:

    ▪ Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease in which antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland
    ▪ Postpartum thyroiditis
    ▪ Drug associated (lithium, amiodarone, tyrosine kinase inhibitors)

    Painful thyroiditis is often subacute in nature. The pain occurs due to the rapid changes in the thyroid gland. Causes include:

    • Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, also known as de Quervain's thyroiditis
    • Subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis
    • Infectious thyroiditis
    • Radiation-induced thyroiditis

    Photo and explanation courtesy of: The Color Atlas of Family Medicine

    ReplyDelete