Tiroiditis subaguda con ausencia de captación cintigráfica unilateral inicial / Subacute thyroiditis with initial unilateralabsence of scintigraphic uptake

ABSTRACT

Subacute thyroiditis is a transient inflammatory process of the thyroid gland and the most common cause of painful thyroiditis. It usually involves the whole thyroid. We present a clinical case of a 45 years old woman developing tachycardia, fever and painful sensation in the left anterior cervical region after an upper respiratory tract infection. In addition the patient presented an enlarged and painful left thyroid lobe. Laboratory analysis demonstrated elevated acute phase reactants, high T4 levels and suppressed thyrotropin with absence of antithyroid antibodies. Thyroid scintigram showed an absent left radioactive iodine uptake. One month later the patient started with malaise, fatigue with an enlarged painful right thyroid lobe. A new scintigram showed complete absence of radioactive iodine uptake. A course of prednisone was initiated with excellent clinical response. Four months later the patient was asymptomatic with normal thyroid function.