Subacute Thyroiditis-An Often Overlooked Sonographic Diagnosis: Report of 3 Cases.

The characteristic sonographic finding of subacute thyroiditis of a heterogeneous poorly defined hypoechoic area in the thyroid gland may mimic that of thyroid malignancy. This finding needs to be interpreted in the correct clinical context to avoid an unnecessary biopsy. We describe 3 patients who underwent thyroid biopsy on the basis of suspicious sonographic findings but who subsequently had a diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis.