[Indication of operation in various forms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Clinical observations]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a polymorphous syndrome. The diagnosis may be suspected clinically with a symmetrical firm goiter without nodes, which develops in a relatively short time (2-3 years on the average). Serological investigations show increased anti-thyroid antibodies. If the antibody titers are low, histological examination is necessary. If goiters with cold areas in the scintigram, biopsies must also be made. The significance of lymphatic tissue in the thyroid gland is still not clear, as yet no certain correlation between the number of antibody secreting cells in the thyroid gland (intra-thyroidal plasmocytes) and the level of anti-thyroid tissue antibodies has been found.