Abstract
A extremely rare case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis presenting with pressure symptoms is described herein. A 50 year old Japanese woman was referred to our department with swelling of the anterior neck, facial edema and recent heavy snoring. Oto-rhinolaryngological examinations revealed no movement of the bilateral vocal cords, severe laryngeal edema and diffuse edema of the tongue and pharynx. These findings had apparently been induced by compression of the bilateral recurrent nerves and internal jugular veins by an enlarged thyroid gland. The results of thyroid function and autoimmune tests were compatible with a diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease and thus, total thyroidectomy with a tracheostomy was performed uneventfully. The resected specimen weighed 168 grams and was confirmed histologically to be Hashimoto's disease. Following her operation all the above symptoms disappeared and 4 months later, the patient is well and asymptomatic.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ingbar SH. Hashimoto's disease (Lymphocytic thyroiditis, Struma lymphomatosa) In: Wilson JD, Foster DW, eds. Textbook of Endocrinology. W.B. Saunders Co. 1985; 806–808.
Volpe R. Autoimmune thyroiditis, In: Ingbar SH, Braverman LE, eds. The Thyroid, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. 1986; 1266–1286.
Thomas CG Jr, Rutledge RG. Surgical intervention in chronic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis. Ann Surg 1981; 193: 769–776.
Lucarotti ME, Holl-Allen RTJ. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy associated with thyroiditis. Br J Surg 1988; 75: 1041–1042.
Shaw JFL, Tayler MJ. Superior vena cava obstruction due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Br J Clin Pract 1983; 37: 73–74.
Lindem MC, Clark JH. Indication for surgery in thyroiditis. Am J Surg 1969; 118: 829–831.
Attie JN, Khafif RA. Preservation of parathyroid glands during total thyroidectomy. Am J Surg 1975; 130: 399–404.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsunoda, T., Mochinaga, N., Eto, T. et al. Hashimoto's thyroiditis presenting with severe pressure symptoms —A case report—. The Japanese Journal of Surgery 21, 450–453 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02470974
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02470974