Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid characterised by dense fibrosis that replaces normal thyroid parenchyma. The etiology is unknown. As per one school of thought it is believed that it is an autoimmune disease while another view is that it is a primary fibrotic disorder. Because of its hard consistency and fixation to adjacent structures it can mimic a thyroid malignancy. Local compressive symptoms, dysphagia, dyspnoea, and hoarseness of voice are the common presenting features. Patients do well with corticosteroid therapy.