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Case Reports
. 2021 Nov;10(6):528-532.
doi: 10.1159/000518444. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

Case Report: A Rare Association of Diffuse Thyroid Lipomatosis with Amyloid Deposition

Daniela Rodrigues Cavaco  1 , Ana Alves Rafael  2 , Rafael Cabrera  3 , Helena Vilar  1 , Valeriano Leite  1   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Case Report: A Rare Association of Diffuse Thyroid Lipomatosis with Amyloid Deposition

Daniela Rodrigues Cavaco et al. Eur Thyroid J. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Diffuse thyroid lipomatosis is a rare histopathological condition of unknown etiology, characterized by diffuse fatty infiltration of the thyroid stroma, which can result in diffuse goiter with compressive symptoms. We report a case of a 46-year-old man with 1-year history of progressive goiter enlargement with compressive symptoms. Imaging studies revealed multiple coalescent nodules. The patient underwent surgery, and the microscopic appearance revealed a diffuse infiltration of thyroid stroma by mature adipose tissue with associated amyloid deposition. A final diagnosis of diffuse lipomatosis of the thyroid gland was established. This patient represents one of the few reported cases of diffuse lipomatosis with coexisting deposition of amyloid protein of the thyroid gland and contributes to the better understanding of this extremely rare condition.

Keywords: Amyloid goiter; Diffuse thyroid lipomatosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT scan showing diffuse thyroid enlargement with hypodense areas.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Thyroid ultrasound: the thyroid left lobe showing diffuse hyperechogenicity.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Histologically, there was infiltration of thyroid stroma by mature adipose tissue (black arrow). b Interstitial amyloid deposition stained with Congo red (black arrow) showing apple-green birefringence under polarized light (yellow arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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