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Updated: May 15, 2026
07:01
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
Thyroid: an unusual hideout for sarcoidosis.
Aarti Manchanda1, Subhash Patel, Jesse J Jiang
1Department of Internal Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Summary
Sarcoidosis can cause a nontoxic multinodular goiter leading to dysphagia. Surgical removal of the thyroid resolved symptoms in this rare case, highlighting sarcoidosis as an uncommon cause of goiter.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas.
- Thyroid involvement in sarcoidosis is rare, occurring in approximately 4.2–4.6% of cases.
- Nontoxic multinodular goiter can lead to compressive symptoms like dysphagia.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old man with asymptomatic nontoxic thyromegaly developed acute dysphagia.
- Initial thyroid biopsies were nondiagnostic, but lymph node biopsy confirmed sarcoidosis.
- Dysphagia persisted despite negative gastrointestinal workup.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination of the thyroid post-thyroidectomy revealed non-necrotizing granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis.
- Total thyroidectomy resulted in complete resolution of the patient's dysphagia.
- This case illustrates a rare presentation of sarcoidosis causing goiter-induced dysphagia.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider sarcoidosis as a potential etiology for nontoxic multinodular goiter, especially in patients with known sarcoidosis.
- Early recognition and diagnosis of thyroid sarcoidosis can prevent complications like severe dysphagia.
- This case underscores the importance of thorough investigation in persistent dysphagia, even with initially inconclusive thyroid findings.
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