A Young Female with Riedel's Thyroiditis

Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare fibrosing disorder of the thyroid gland, with a prevalence of approximately 1/100,000, predominantly affecting women between 30 and 50 years of age. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with a 10-year history of hypothyroidism on thyroxine replacement, who presented with a painful, hard thyroid swelling for seven months associated with dysphagia, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and sore throat. Examination revealed a stony hard, fixed thyroid mass without lymphadenopathy. Laboratory evaluation showed a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 0.613 mIU/L and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 55 mm/hour (normal range 0–30). Ultrasonography demonstrated markedly enlarged thyroid lobes with ill-defined hypoechoic nodules containing coarse calcifications, encasing the thyroid cartilage and major vessels, and without increased vascularity. Computed tomography (CT) imaging confirmed diffuse thyroid enlargement with retrosternal extension and mild tracheal compression. A thyroid scan revealed reduced radiotracer uptake. Trucut biopsy showed dense sclerotic collagenous tissue with histiocytic and mild lymphoid infiltrate; Congo red staining was negative for amyloid. These findings were consistent with Riedel's thyroiditis. The case highlights the diagnostic challenges of this rare entity, which can mimic malignancy both clinically and radiologically, emphasizing the importance of histopathological confirmation for accurate diagnosis and management.