aetiology of primary hypothyroidism
Last reviewed 03/2023
Primary thyroid failure may be caused by:
Common:
- chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
- Hashimoto's disease
- following thyroidectomy or radioiodine treatment
- iodine deficiency or, rarely, gross excess
- drug-induced
- de Quervain's thyroiditis - usually transient
- silent thyroiditis - usually transient; may be permanent
Uncommon:
- post-external beam irradiation to the neck
- congenital causes
- infiltrative disease:
- sarcoidosis
- systemic amyloidosis
classified according to antibody status and history