Association of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and Hashimoto's thyroiditis

A 75-year-old white woman with a supraclavicular mass and primary hypothyroidism was found to have immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and Hashimoto's thyroidits. Peripheral blood contained normal percentages of T and B lymphocytes, but there was a markedly decreased response to phytohemagglutinin and to skin testing for delayed hypersensitivity. Since lack of suppressor T cells, B-cell proliferation, and decreased immunosurveillance may be causative factors in these diseases, it was of interest to document this rare association of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.