The pathology of granulomatous diseases of the thyroid gland

In the present review we comment on granulomatous diseases of the thyroid gland based mainly on combined clinico-pathological criteria. Emphasis is given to diseases restricted to the thyroid (i.e., de Quervain's, palpation and interstitial giant cell thyroiditis), and those that may manifest as primary in the thyroid though they may be part of a generalized process (i.e., sarcoidal, tuberculous, fungal and syphilitic thyroiditis). Other disorders with minor variable granulomatous or pseudogranulomatous components affecting the thyroid are briefly described, and differential diagnoses analysed for granulomatous lesions both specific and non-specific to the thyroid.