MMP11 and thyroiditis: The MMP-11 expression is observed in the area that surrounds malignant epithelial tumour cells and sometimes in tumour cells of oesophageal, oral, papillary thyroid, colorectal, skin and ovarian carcinomas (Thewes et al, 1999; Mueller et al, 2000; Soni et al, 2003; Wasenius et al, 2003; Yamashita et al, 2004).