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• What is it?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a form of inflammation of the thyroid gland. This inflammation is characterized by the presence of a large number of lymphocytes within the thyroid, which are interspersed between the follicles of the gland. This picture is described as a diffuse infiltration of the thyroid by lymphocytes. This explains the term “chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis” by which Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is also known.

• What is it caused by?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a disease of autoimmune etiology. This means that it occurs as a result of an error in the body’s immune system, which reacts against antigens that are normally present on the surface of the patient’s own thyroid cells. This is why the characteristic increase in thyroid autoantibodies is observed in the patient’s blood, a characteristic finding and particularly useful for diagnosing the disease.

• What symptoms can it cause?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

The severity of hypothyroidism determines whether there will be symptoms or not. If hypothyroidism is mild, symptoms may be absent. In this case (subclinical or asymptomatic hypothyroidism) the diagnosis can only be made by measuring the levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. In other cases, however, symptoms may be present (clinical or symptomatic hypothyroidism), such as easy fatigue, lethargy, constipation, intolerance to cold, mental retardation or developmental delay (in children), memory disorders, slowing of mental functions and bradypsychism, etc.

Sometimes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is accompanied by an increase in the size of the thyroid. In this case, a swelling in the neck may be evident. If the enlarged thyroid presses on adjacent organs (such as the trachea or esophagus), there may be symptoms of pressure on these organs (pressure phenomena), such as difficulty breathing (due to pressure on the trachea), difficulty swallowing (due to pressure on the esophagus), etc.

The patient may also feel mild pain in the neck, or have the sensation of a foreign body or weight in the neck.

• How is it treated?

The first step is to properly investigate the patient. Initially, a test for antithyroid antibodies (to diagnose the disease) and a measurement of thyroid hormones in the blood (for possible hypothyroidism) should be performed. Subsequently, an imaging test of the thyroid should be performed with an ultrasound in order to check its morphology.

If there is no hypothyroidism and the thyroid does not show significant damage on the ultrasound, no special treatment is needed, apart from periodic monitoring. If there is hypothyroidism, it should be treated with oral thyroxine (replacement therapy).

Surgery will be required in special cases, such as:

Large enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)

Presence of symptoms

Suspected cancer (most commonly manifests itself in the form of a thyroid nodule)

The treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis at Psychiko Medical Center is carried out following modern international standards. Our role, due to our specialty, is limited to the surgical treatment of the disease (when there are indications). The surgery is performed with the greatest possible safety, using all modern equipment and applying modern techniques. The patient is discharged from the hospital after a few hours of hospitalization.