Chronic lymphocytic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis in Kuwait diagnosed by fine needle aspirates

A retrospective analysis of 4185 consecutive fine needle aspirates (FNA) of the thyroid over an eight year period at a teaching hospital in Kuwait revealed that 14.3% of all the aspirates had features of chronic lymphocytic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis (HT). The proportion of patients with HT showed a slight increase in the last two years but the pattern of clinical presentation has remained unchanged. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was most prevalent in the age group from 16 to 35 and the majority of young patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis presented with diffuse goiter (DG) whereas multinodular goiter (MNG) and solitary thyroid nodule (STN) were more common in the older age group. Of patients who presented with STN, the most common abnormality on thyroid scan was a "cold nodule". Functional disturbances (hypo and hyperthyroidism) occurred less frequently in patients presenting as STN than in patients presenting with DG or MNG. We conclude that FNA is indicated in all young patients with diffuse goiter in this region in order to facilitate early detection and initiation of suppressive thyroxine therapy. Further, when young patients present with "cold" solitary nodules of the thyroid, HT is a more common cause than a thyroid carcinoma in Kuwait.