[Clinico-radiological comparisons in autoimmune thyroiditis]

The author observed 293 patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis (Hasimoto's thyroiditis--in 236). Four symptom complexes of the disease were distinguished: typical chronic autoimmune thyroidits in euthyroidal condition, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis with thyrotoxicosis, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism, relapsing autoimmune thyroiditis. Radioindication and scanning of the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine-131 was conducted preoperatively in 74 patients and at various postoperative periods in 26 patients. Radioisotopic methods were of importance in the comprehensive clinical examination of patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis. By means of these methods diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis was confirmed in 6.7% of patients. All the patients with autoimmune thyroiditis were operated on. Resection of the peritracheal segments of the thyroid gland with the isthmus extirpation was performed. During the postoperative period the patients required prolonged dispensary observation and treatment with immunodepressors and thyroid hormones.