Histological changes in the thyroid in cirrhosis of the liver.

The thyroid has been examined histologically in 77 cases of cirrhosis of the liver and in an equal number of control cases. Contrary to expectation, no difference was found between the incidence or the severity of lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid in the two groups. A conspicuous fibrosis or ;cirrhosis' of the thyroid, not related to lymphocytic infiltration, was associated with cirrhosis of the liver, especially in elderly women. The significance of this lesion is not clear but its origin is probably to be sought in liver dysfunction rather than in auto-immunization.