[Thyroiditis]

We reviewed the results of the long term study of incidence, clinical characteristics, some etiological possibilities and pathogenetic mechanisms in inflammatory diseases of thyroid gland. Among persons who suffered of acute thyroiditis we presented the most frequent causes and prominent clinical characteristics in the course of the disease with special interest for predisposing factors. Contrary to the most frequent opinions, the number of cases with subacute (de Quervain) thyroiditis is so similar to the number of cases with Graves diseases. For these reason we concluded that subacute thyroiditis is important medical problem, in spite of its benignity. Even well known clinical characteristics and therapy of subacute thyroiditis, etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms are not well estimated. The group of chronical thyroiditis described as autoimmune thyroiditis, indicates on etiology of this heterogeneous group of thyroid diseases. Modern aspects of therapy are shown at the end of the study.