Objective: To discuss the principles of diagnosis and treatment of coexistent chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) with nodules.
Methods: Patients who were operated from 1995 to 2005 were divided into two groups according to pathological results. A comparison of the clinical data, including clinicopathologic features, treatment and prognosis was made between these groups by retrospective research.
Results: The patients of CLT with carcinoma included 48 women and 3 men, with an average age of 36.8 years and symptoms duration of 24.6 months, and there were 28 cases of solitary nodule and 34 cases of calcification; the patients with benign nodules included 94 women and 2 men, with an average age of 48.0 years and symptoms duration of 59.0 months, and there were 27 cases of solitary nodule and 14 cases of calcification. Age of onset, symptoms duration, nodule numbers and calcification in nodules had significant difference between these groups.
Conclusion: Coexistent carcinoma was the main reason of operation in cases of CLT with nodules. thyroiditis nodule, coexistent nodular goiter or adenoma were also common reasons. CLT patients with thyroid nodules should be diagnosed and treated carefully. Surgical intervention should also be considered with such conditions, including malignant finding of fine-needle aspiration, rapid enlargement of thyroid nodule, solitary solid nodule, and calcification revealed by ultrasonography.