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Published on: November 10, 2014
Amyloid goiter: A Tunisian case series
Rihab Laamouri1,2,3, Ibtissem Ben Nacef1,2,3, Makram Tbini1,4
1University of Tunis El Manar Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Introduction:
Amyloidosis is a systemic disease caused by amyloid chain deposition. The thyroid is a very uncommon location. The prevalence of amyloid goiter is estimated to be 0.17.
Cases Presentation:
We report three cases of amyloid goiter (AG). Three men, aged between 30 and 42 years, were hospitalized in the medical department. Compressive signs were present in one patient. All the patients had normal thyroid hormone levels. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) revealed amyloid deposition in one case. All the patients underwent total thyroidectomy. All patients underwent surgery without complications and were treated with L thyroxine replacement therapy. A pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of AG. A literature review was conducted using PubMed from 2019 to 2024.
Conclusion:
Amyloid deposition is rarely associated with thyroid dysfunction. The discovery circumstance is generally thyroid enlargement and may be associated with compressive signs. Compressive and rapid enlargement of the thyroid may be an indication for surgery. FNA is generally less informative than core biopsy and surgery . Thyroidectomy is a therapeutic and diagnostic procedure. Clinicians should consider amyloid deposition in front of a growing goiter, particularly when systemic amyloidosis is known.
Insights
Amyloid goiter (AG) is rare, often presenting as thyroid enlargement with potential compressive symptoms. Surgical thyroidectomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic for this uncommon condition.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
Background:
- Amyloidosis involves systemic amyloid chain deposition, with the thyroid being an exceptionally rare site.
- Amyloid goiter (AG) has an estimated prevalence of 0.17%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present three cases of amyloid goiter (AG).
- To review the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AG.
Main Methods:
- Case series of three male patients diagnosed with AG.
- Surgical total thyroidectomy and pathological examination.
- Literature review of PubMed (2019-2024).
Main Results:
- Patients presented with thyroid enlargement; one had compressive signs.
- Thyroid hormone levels were normal in all cases.
- Pathological examination confirmed AG post-thyroidectomy.
Conclusions:
- Amyloid deposition in the thyroid is uncommon and rarely causes dysfunction.
- Thyroid enlargement with compressive signs may necessitate surgery.
- Thyroidectomy serves as a crucial diagnostic and therapeutic intervention for AG.
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