Subacute (De Quervain's) thyroiditis presenting as painful thyroid nodule suspicious of papillary thyroid carcinoma: Case report

INTRODUCTION: We report a case of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) in a 29 -year-old female who presented with painful thyroid swelling. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Patient presented with neck pain, tender neck swelling and generalized fatigue. She had no history of neck or chest radiation or compressive symptoms. Ultrasound (US) imaging reveled bilateral nodules of the thyroid gland. Lymph nodes were unremarkable. FNAC was suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient was discussed at the thyroid multidisciplinary meeting, and after deliberation the decision was to offer the patient the choice of repeating FNAC of the bilateral nodules in one month or to proceed with total thyroidectomy. DISCUSSION: Despite being aware of the possibility that the final pathology could be benign, the patient insisted on total thyroidectomy, given that her FNAC results were suspicious of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and in order to avoid recurrence of the condition and the pain. Following the patient's preference, total thyroidectomy was performed, and surgery was not straightforward as intraoperatively, there was a diffusely inflamed gland. Histopathology findings revealed benign pathology. Follow up until 1.5 years showed that the patient was satisfied, and with normal voice. CONCLUSION: SAT is a painful but potentially self-limiting. In some cases, FNAC findings might be suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Treatment is mostly conservative, but if the pain is severe and the patient insists on surgery as in our case despite the possibility of the condition being of benign pathology, then surgery should be undertaken.