MEDIASTINAL FIBROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH RIED ELS THYROIDITIS

The authors describe a case of mediastinal fibrosis in a 53 year old w oman which presented with a superior venacaval syndrome ten years afte r the diagnosis of a Riedel's thyroiditis. The clinical and laboratory evidence did not reveal anything to suggest other fibrosing disorders (such as retroperitoneal fibrosis, extra-hepatic biliary fibrosis or orbital fibrosis) which could be associated either simultaneously or s uccessively with this multi-focal fibrosis. The physiology of this dis order currently remains imprecise. A current hypothesis is that there is an immunological reaction in the peri-arterial area leading to lipi d components make atheromatous plaques. The therapeutic means are limi ted and depend on the localisation of the fibrous tissue and of their functional repercussions. Currently, the benefit of corticosteroids on the mediastinal fibrotic lesions has not been demonstrated.