Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease)

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Endocrine glands

Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis)

Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Thyroid gland

Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Struma lymphomatosa; Lymphadenoid goiter; Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; Autoimmune thyroiditis

• Intolerance to cold
• Weight gain - mild
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Enlarged neck or presence of goiter
• Small or atrophic thyroid gland (late in the disease)
• Dry skin
• Hair loss
• Heavy and irregular menses
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Weight gain (unintentional)
• Joint stiffness
• Facial swelling

Note: There may be no symptoms.

Laboratory tests to determine thyroid function include:

• Free T4 test (low)
• Serum TSH (high)
• T3 (low or normal)
• Thyroid autoantibodies are frequently present:
  • antithyroid peroxidase antibody
  • antithyroglobulin antibody

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Radioactive iodine uptake
• Complete blood count
• Total cholesterol
• Serum sodium
• Serum prolactin

Review Date: 05/12/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.