[Treatment guidelines for inflammatory and malignant diseases of the thyroid gland]

Most cases of thyroiditis can be treated with antibiotics, antiphlogistics, and corticosteroids. In case of abscess caused by bacterial infection or compression of the trachea surgical therapy is required for drainage and resection. The prognosis for differentiated malignant tumours of the thyroid gland is good even if metastases have occurred. The recommended therapy includes total resection of the thyroid gland and radioiodine therapy to eliminate any remaining thyroid tissue. For anaplastic thyroid carcinomas surgery should be considered because of the extremely poor prognosis for these types of tumours. Resection should be performed to improve the patient's quality of life by avoiding tracheostoma or to ensure normal nutritional uptake. Medullary thyroid carcinoma is known in sporadic and in hereditary forms. Thyroidectomy is the accepted therapy. In 15% of the patients we observed the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasms (MEN), which is a form of thyroid carcinoma complicated by pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism. Diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas includes examination of the patient, scintigraphy and ultrasonography of the thyroid gland, and cytological examination by aspiration biopsy. Post-operative care includes substitution of thyroid hormones, regular measurement of the thyreoglobulin levels in the blood, and examination for metastases in the lungs, the abdomen, and the bones.