Palpation thyroiditis refers to the development of thyroid

Thyroid

The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...

 inflammation due to mechanical damage to thyroid follicles. This can occur by vigorous repeated palpation

Palpation

Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location...

 (as with thyroid examination) or surgical manipulation (as can occur with radical neck dissection

Neck dissection

The neck dissection is a surgical procedure for control of neck lymph node metastasis from Squamous cell carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The aim of the procedure is to remove lymph nodes from one side of the neck into which cancer cells may have migrated...

). It is a type of subacute thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis is a form of thyroiditis that can be a cause of both thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism. It is uncommon and can affect individuals of both sexes and all ages. It manifests as a sudden and painful enlargement of the thyroid gland accompanied with fever, malaise and muscle aches...

. Pathology shows multifocal granulomatous folliculitis. T cell

T cell

T cells or T lymphocytes belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B cells and natural killer cells , by the presence of a T cell receptor on the cell surface. They are...

s predominate compared to B cell

B cell

B cells are lymphocytes that play a large role in the humoral immune response . The principal functions of B cells are to make antibodies against antigens, perform the role of antigen-presenting cells and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction...

s. There may be initial transient hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the term for overactive tissue within the thyroid gland causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones . Hyperthyroidism is thus a cause of thyrotoxicosis, the clinical condition of increased thyroid hormones in the blood. Hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis are not synonymous...

 due to leakage of preformed thyroid hormone

Thyroid hormone

The thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine , are tyrosine-based hormones produced by the thyroid gland primarily responsible for regulation of metabolism. An important component in the synthesis of thyroid hormones is iodine. The major form of thyroid hormone in the blood is thyroxine ,...

in blood.