Subacute thyroiditis: a review of 105 cases.
A retrospective review of 4023 thyroid scans performed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the five years to February 1987 identified 105 cases of subacute thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis accounted for 9.9% of subjects scanned for hyperthyroidism. Eighty-four percent had painful thyroiditis, 6% postpartum thyroiditis, and 10% painless thyroiditis. Follow-up was obtained in 68% of cases, and 11% were taking thyroxine, probably indicating long-term hypothyroidism. Apart from the presence of antibodies in post-partum thyroiditis, no other factor was identified which predicted the development of long-term hypothyroidism. As subacute thyroiditis is a common cause of hyperthyroidism in our community, the authors believe all people with hyperthyroidism should have a thyroid scan unless they have distinctive features of Graves' disease.
Kitchener
M I
MI
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia.
Chapman
I M
IM
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013968:Thyroiditis, Subacute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology