Cytodiagnosis of subacute granulomatous thyroiditis (De Quervain's thyroiditis)—A report of four cases

Abstract

Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis (SGT)/De Quervain's thyroiditis is a rare self-limiting inflammatory disease, accounting for 3% of all thyroid disorders. Most commonly seen in middle aged women, it shows a characteristic triad of pain in the anterior cervical region, increased ESR and recent history of viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cytomorphological features are not pathognomonic and can also be seen in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, granulomatous infections, sarcoidosis, and papillary thyroid carcinoma. We report four cases of SGT, diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Familiarity with cytomorphology of SGT and awareness of the clinical setting is essential for making an accurate diagnosis.