Introduction
Historical Summary
Report of Cases of the Fibrous Type
Report of Cases of the Lymphoid Type
Résumé of Types
Fibrous Type (Riedal)
Lymphoid Type (Hashimoto)
Comment
Comparison of Types
Etiology
Diagnosis
Treatment
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Chronic nonspecific thyroiditis is a nonsuppurative disease of unknown etiology, affecting the thyroid gland of men and women, both young and old. It is characterized by the rapid development of an extremely hard, frequently fixed tumor, without previous or present signs of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, although a goiter may have been present for some time. There is little, if any, associated fever or leukocytosis. Pain is very infrequent, dyspnea, dysphagia and aphonia being the most common symptoms. The regional lymph nodes are rarely enlarged. Metastases never occur.There are two pathologic types. One is characterized chiefly by fibrosis, and the other, chiefly by lymphocytic infiltration. These types do not include the somewhat similar-appearing pathologic changes