Vol.96 No.7 contents
PRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 96 No.7 July 2003
Salmonella and Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis
Isao Morizane and Aki Taguchi
(Ehime University School of Medicine)
Hiroshi Aritomo
(Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital)
Masanori Asai
(Ehime Prefectural Imabari Hospital)
Acute suppurative thyroiditis due to salmonella is an extremely rare condition because the thyroid gland is totally encapsulated and has a high local iodide content, with a rich lymphatic and vascular supply. We report a case of acute suppurative thyroiditis in a 50-year-old woman. She presented with a painful swelling in the left neck. She had neither symptom nor history of gastroenteritis. Ultrasound examination of the thyroid suggested an abscess of the inferior pole of the left thyroid lobe. Purulent fluid obtained by fine needle puncture grew Salmonella Anatum. The abscess got worse despite the intravenous administration of antibiotics, and surgical drainage was performed. No evidence of piriform sinus fistula was found in barium swallowing examinations two and five months after surgery. Although the route of infection remained unclear, a hematogenous route seemed to be the most likely.
Key words : salmonella, acute suppurative thyroiditis, piriform sinus fistula, hematogenous route