Page created on March 30, 2019. Not updated since.
Staining: HE
Organ: Thyroid
Description:
Areas of normal thyroid is separated by fibrosis, causing the formation of “islands” of thyroid follicles. Also present are some giant cells, indicating that this is a granulomatous inflammation.
Diagnosis: Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis / de Quervain’s thyroiditis
Causes:
- Viral infection, often upper respiratory tract
Theory:
This is a self-limiting disease that goes away after 6-8 weeks without treatment. Fibrosis is only present in the late stages of this condition, either right before or after remission. This indicates that this sample was taken from a patient who had late-stage subacute granulomatous thyroiditis. This also explains why there are so few giant cells present.