Early Thyroid Volume Reduction in Subacute Thyroiditis Can be a Potential Indicator for Hypothyroidism

BackgroundThyroid volume has been reported to decrease significantly after episodes of subacute thyroiditis (SAT); however, the relationship between thyroid volume and hypothyroidism remains unclear. This study assessed the association between thyroid volume changes and the hypothyroid phase in patients with SAT, a condition that can progress to persistent hypothyroidism. MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated 37 patients diagnosed with SAT at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital (CNUHH) between 2016 and 2021. Since we could not determine the clinical characteristics of patients with SAT before their episodes, 120 healthy individuals who underwent thyroid ultrasonography during regular check-ups from 2019 to 2021 at CNUHH were selected for comparison. Subgroup analyses were performed on patients with SAT with and without the hypothyroid phase during their clinical course. ResultsThyroid volume was significantly greater in SAT patients at the first visit than in controls (p