What is some tissues or organs that are affected by Thyroiditis?
Tissues and organs affected by thyroiditis:
* Thyroid gland: Thyroiditis is primarily an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for producing thyroid hormones. The inflammation can cause changes in thyroid hormone production and lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
* Surrounding tissues: The inflammation in thyroiditis can extend beyond the thyroid gland and affect surrounding tissues, such as muscles, blood vessels, and nerves in the neck. This can lead to pain, swelling, and discomfort in the neck area.
* Lymphatic system: Thyroiditis can cause the lymph nodes in the neck to enlarge and become tender due to increased immune activity.
* Other organs: In some cases, severe or chronic thyroiditis can affect other organs and tissues in the body, including the heart, liver, kidneys, and bone marrow. These systemic effects are rare but can occur in certain individuals, particularly those with autoimmune thyroiditis.
It's worth noting that the specific tissues and organs affected by thyroiditis depend on the type of thyroiditis and its severity. Different forms of thyroiditis, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, may have slightly different patterns of involvement and tissue effects.