Rheumatoid nodules in thyroid gland parenchyma as an expression of rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2019 May 28;13(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s13256-019-2113-9.

Abstract

Background: The rheumatoid nodule is the most common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. When present, it is readily identified in conventional hematoxylin and eosin sections.

Case presentation: We report a case with several rheumatoid nodules in a thyroid gland of a 33-year-old Greek woman with a 3-year history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate, after having total thyroidectomy for hypothyroidism.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that rheumatoid nodules have been encountered in the thyroid gland.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid nodule; Thyroid gland.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Rheumatoid Nodule / physiopathology*
  • Thyroid Gland / physiopathology*
  • Thyroid Gland / surgery*
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Thyroxine