title: Autoimmune thyroiditis presenting as interstitial granulomatous dermatitis.
abstract: A 54-year-old female presented with recurrent, widespread, erythematous, painful plaques, over a 3-month period. Skin biopsy was compatible with interstitial granulomatous dermatitis. Additional investigation revealed hypothyroidism and positive anti-thyroid antibodies. Normalization of thyroid function and high-potency topical corticosteroids provided only transitory improvement of the dermatosis. Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis is a histologic inflammatory reaction, with variable cutaneous expression. It has been reported in association with several drugs, lymphoproliferative diseases and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis, but association with autoimmune thyroiditis is rare. Optimal therapy for this condition is yet to be established, but topical corticosteroids have been a mainstay of treatment. In most cases, this disease is characterized by flares and remissions.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Santa Maria Hospital, Hospital Center North Lisbon, Portugal. joanaferroantunes@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Ana Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Travassos
authors.forename: Luís Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Soares-Almeida
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sacramento-Marques
mesh_terms: D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications*