Abstract
At the operation carried out primarily for removal of thyroid nodules, a firm lesion less than 1 cm in diameter was incidentally found in the remnant thyroid tissue in two cases. With suspicion of an occult carcinoma of the thyroid, partial thyroidectomy was performed. Microscopically the lesion was proved to be subacute thyroiditis. Retrospective review of the clinical and laboratory findings revealed nothing to suggest the coexistence of the inflammatory process. Postoperatively no recurrence of thyroiditis was seen in the remaining thyroid tissue. These cases imply the presence of patients with subacute thyroiditis which may proceed subclinically throughout the course.
