Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Buttons for leader lines The term ΓÇÿHashimoto's thyroiditisΓÇÖ is probably best reserved for patients with a firm, diffuse goitre, often hypothyroidism, and evidence of an autoimmune process. Circulating autoantibodies are strongly positive. Histological examination of the thyroid shows diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, lymphoid follicles with germinal centres, and Askenazy cell change in the remnants of thyroid follicles (Fig. 15.23).
