A case of Riedel's thyroiditis treated with tamoxifen: another successful outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of Riedel's thyroiditis, which was successfully treated with tamoxifen.


METHODS
We present the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings and describe the clinical course of a patient with Riedel's thyroiditis.


RESULTS
A 40-year-old woman presented with hypothyroidism and a large goiter, which was unresponsive to hormone replacement therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of an enlarged thyroid gland, more pronounced on the right than on the left. The patient had progressive discomfort attributable to compressive symptoms in the neck. Surgical exploration of the neck disclosed a hard, immobile thyroid mass, which could not be resected because of adherence to surrounding structures. Biopsy of the thyroid and of the muscles of the neck revealed Riedel's thyroiditis. Treatment with tamoxifen, in a dosage of 20 mg twice a day for more than 1(1/2) years, completely resolved the neck mass (substantiated by follow-up magnetic resonance imaging) and relieved the signs and symptoms of compression of the neck.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen treatment is effective in resolving the mass and compression in Riedel's thyroiditis.
Jung
Yiechul J
YJ
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, USA.
Schaub
Carl R
CR
Rhodes
Ronald
R
Rich
Frank A
FA
Muehlenbein
Stephen J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen