Nasr Payman, Turkel Sarah
Clinical Science Department, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, 90747, USA.
J Med Case Rep. 2025 May 2;19(1):203. doi: 10.1186/s13256-025-05210-5.
Subacute thyroiditis is often misdiagnosed owing to its nonspecific symptoms, which can mimic other conditions. Accurate diagnosis relies heavily on thorough physical examination and careful interpretation of laboratory tests.
A 53-year-old female of Iranian (Persian) ethnicity was initially misdiagnosed with sinusitis after presenting with persistent anterior neck pain, fever, and worsening fatigue. As her symptoms progressed, she was later diagnosed with pyelonephritis, further delaying the recognition of her underlying condition. After multiple visits, a comprehensive physical examination revealed peripheral vision loss and thyroid tenderness. Laboratory tests eventually confirmed subacute thyroiditis. The patient was treated with a 10-day course of prednisone, resulting in rapid symptom improvement.
This case underscores the critical role of a comprehensive physical examination and strategic selection and interpretation of laboratory tests in accurately diagnosing subacute thyroiditis. Early recognition through thorough clinical assessment can help prevent diagnostic delays, unnecessary treatments, and prolonged patient symptoms.
亚急性甲状腺炎常因其非特异性症状而被误诊，这些症状可能与其他病症相似。准确诊断在很大程度上依赖于全面的体格检查和对实验室检查结果的仔细解读。
一名53岁的伊朗（波斯）族女性最初因持续的前颈部疼痛、发热和疲劳加重而被误诊为鼻窦炎。随着症状进展，她后来被诊断为肾盂肾炎，这进一步延误了对其潜在病情的识别。经过多次就诊，全面的体格检查发现其周边视力丧失和甲状腺压痛。实验室检查最终确诊为亚急性甲状腺炎。该患者接受了为期10天的泼尼松治疗，症状迅速改善。
本病例强调了全面体格检查以及实验室检查的合理选择和解读在准确诊断亚急性甲状腺炎中的关键作用。通过全面的临床评估实现早期识别有助于防止诊断延误、不必要的治疗以及患者症状的长期存在。
