Reidel’s Thyroiditis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Reidel’s thyroiditis (RT) is a very rare form of chronic thyroiditis associated with fibrosis of the thyroid gland, surrounding cervical tissue and also with other forms of systemic fibrosis. It has a very complex presentation including both local and various systemic and biochemical alterations, but because of its rare occurrence, it is very difficult to suspect and diagnose it. It should be evaluated in every patient with hard thyroid mass having compressive symptoms. High dose steroids followed by tamoxifen should be started early to prevent the ongoing fibrotic process. Here there was a case of Reidel’s thyroiditis in a 45 years old male patient who presented with a left-sided cervical mass with features of dysphagia and difficulty in breathing. This case highlights the difficulty in histological diagnosis and subsequent avoidance of aggressive surgery in this rare type of disease.