What is Hashimoto’s disease?

  Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s goiter, is an autoimmune thyroid disease with a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate.  The disease is most commonly seen in women aged 35-55 years and generally has a long course. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can be malignant, secondary to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and can be combined with other autoimmune diseases. The incidence of this disease has shown a significant increase in recent years. The cause of the disease is currently recognized as an autoimmune thyroid disease, but the cause of autoimmunity is not fully understood.  The majority of patients with Hashimoto’s disease have no obvious symptoms in the early stage, but may also show weakness or neck discomfort, and as the disease progresses may show enlargement of the thyroid gland or combined with thyroid tumors, occasionally patients with fever and pain in the thyroid area.  The main manifestations of the disease are as follows: 1. enlargement of the thyroid gland: it is mostly diffusely enlarged.  2. Tracheal compression: mostly manifests as neck discomfort, and a few may manifest as dyspnea.  3, thyroid function abnormalities: secondary to both hyper- and hypothyroidism can occur.  4. Other manifestations: thyroid gland fibrosis, juvenile hyperplasia, proptosis, and atrophic thyroiditis can occur, but the chance of occurrence is low.  5. Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, myasthenia gravis, thyroid lymphoma or cancer: the most important thing that patients need to pay attention to is the combination of Hashimoto’s disease with thyroid tumor. Once the combination of thyroid tumors is found, it is important to come to the clinic in time to avoid delaying the disease.