Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis - Figure 10. Typical cytological presentations of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Heterogeneous lymphoid cells mixed with oxyphilic cells - this is the characteristic presentation of lymphocytic thyroiditis. The ratio of the two cell types may extremely different. The most pathognomic phenomenon is the presence of lymphocytes not only outside but even within oxyphilic cell groups. Hürthle-cells occur in compact groups with minimal tendency to dissociate.