Putting All the Pieces Together: Clinical, Macroscopic and Microscopic Characteristics of Subacute Thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting inflammatory condition of the thyroid gland in which multinucleated giant cells constitute a key histological finding. SAT is generally a clinical diagnosis and consequently its histological features are rarely encountered by pathologist. Herein, we present a case that exemplifies the characteristic clinical and pathological features of this entity. In addition, we compare SAT to other thyroid disorders characterized by the presence of multinucleated giant cells.