[Riedel's thyroiditis: report of a case]

ABSTRACT

Riedel's thyroiditis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland characterized by a fibrosis of the gland extending to adjacent cervical structures. We report the case of a 56 year-old woman with Riedel's thyroiditis. The clinical presentation was that of a big, hard, and compressive thyroid nodule. The nodule was found to be cold on the thyroid scan. The diagnosis was given by biopsy. Because of the impossibility of a surgical cure and the presence of compressive symptoms, the patient was treated by corticosteroids at the initial dose of 1mg/kg/d of prednisone. The dose was decreased progressively over a period of 7 months. The evolution was favourable with disappearance of the compressive signs and a reduction in the size of the gland