Rapidly progressive Riedel's thyroiditis presenting with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy mimicking thyroid...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Pathology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare, slowly progressing fibrosing inflammatory disorder.
• It can extend beyond the thyroid capsule, affecting adjacent structures.
• Rapid progression mimicking malignancy is highly unusual.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an atypical case of Riedel's thyroiditis with rapid progression.
• To highlight its potential to mimic thyroid cancer.
• To emphasize the role of early surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a middle-aged Asian woman with acute onset symptoms.
• Diagnostic procedures included laryngoscopy, ultrasonography, and fine-needle aspiration.
• Surgical management involved total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection.

Main Results:

• Histopathology confirmed Riedel's thyroiditis with dense fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis.
• The patient experienced improvement in hoarseness post-surgery.
• No recurrence observed at 2.5 years with levothyroxine therapy.

Conclusions:

• Riedel's thyroiditis can present with acute progression and mimic thyroid malignancy.
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy can be an associated feature.
• Early surgical intervention is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.