ATROPHY AND FIBROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH LYMPHOID TISSUE IN THE THYROID

Abstract

Hashimoto,¹ in 1912, reported four cases of "a characteristic kind of chronic inflammation" of the thyroid which he designated struma lymph omatosa. He was unable to discover other cases of a similar nature in the literature. We are not aware that any cases corresponding to those described by Hashimoto have been reported as such since the original publication. Subsequent observers either have failed to recognize or report this particular type of lesion, or have arrived at a different interpretation. The latter assumption seems the more probable, since recent writers² have stated that struma lymphomatosa is the early stage of Riedel's struma, despite the fact that Hashimoto carefully considered and definitely rejected such a relationship. Four cases corresponding in every essential detail with those reported by Hashimoto have come under observation at the Cleveland Clinic. These are presented with the hope of stimulating others to record similar cases in