Thyroid pyocele with systemic sepsis: a rare clinical scenario.

A late middle-aged woman presented with a large, painful neck mass, with a history of rapid increase of size since 1 week and associated voice change, dyspnoea and odynophagia. Prior radiological investigation showed a multiloculated cystic mass in the left thyroid lobe. Fine needle aspiration revealed a predominant cluster of neutrophils. Blood investigations showed leucocytosis and high blood glucose levels suggestive of sepsis. The patient underwent surgical drainage of the thyroid abscess with total thyroidectomy which was managed through multidisciplinary teamwork between surgeons, haematologists, endocrinologists and anaesthesiologists. In addition, urine culture and thyroid pus culture both showed Escherichia coli growth suggestive of bacterial sepsis. The patient was treated successfully and made a complete recovery following surgery with normalisation of voice.

[A Case of Thyroid Gland Abscess Caused by Brucella melitensis]. / Brucella melitensis'in Neden Oldugu Bir Tiroid Bezi Apsesi Olgusu.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease endemic in many developing countries, including Türkiye. Among the species that are pathogenic for humans; Brucella melitensis is isolated from livestock animals like sheep and goats, Brucella abortus from cattle and Brucella suis from pigs. Laboratory diagnosis of infection caused by Brucella species with gram-negative coccobacillus morphology; can be made through characteristic culture features, serological tests and molecular methods. Brucellosis, which has a wide distribution of clinical signs and symptoms; can cause various complications by affecting many organs and systems. Among all complications, the probability of thyroid abscess is less than 1%. In this case report; an example of thyroid abscess, one of the rare complications of brucellosis that is not frequently encountered in the literature, was presented. During the physical examination of a 45-year-old female patient who admitted with the complaint of pain in the neck area, fever, neck swelling, redness and pain that increased with palpation were detected. Leukocytosis, lymphopenia, high sedimentation and CRP, low TSH and high T4 values were detected in laboratory tests and subacute thyroiditis was considered as the preliminary diagnosis. Surgical abscess drainage was planned as the patient's clinical findings progressed during follow-up and spontaneous pus discharged from the midline of the neck. The abscess aspirate sample taken during surgical intervention and the blood culture samples taken before were evaluated microbiologically. Microorganisms that did not grow on EMB agar but grew on 5% sheep blood and chocolate agar at the 72-96th hour of incubation of culture plates; were detected to have gram-negative coccobacillus morphology and positive for catalase, oxidase and urease. Although the Wright test was negative with a titer of 1/20, the Rose Bengal test was positive, Coombs test was positive with a titer of 1/160 and the Brucellacapt test was positive with a titer of >1/5120. Microorganisms growing on culture plates were identified as B.melitensis at the species level with specific antisera. As a result of antibiotic susceptibility tests evaluated according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing version 14.0 (EUCAST v14.0), the isolate was susceptible to rifampicin, doxycycline, gentamicin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole at standart dosing regimen and susceptible to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin at increased exposure. The patient, who was started on doxycycline and rifampicin combination treatment, was discharged without any complaints. In the diagnosis of infection due to Brucella species, which is one of the pathogens that early diagnosis and initiation of treatment greatly affects the prognosis; in addition to culture, which is the gold standard method, serological tests are also very important. If diagnosis is delayed, complications may develop due to involvement in almost every part of the body, depending on the affected organs and systems. In areas where brucellosis is endemic, patients with symptoms such as neck swelling, shortness of breath and difficulty in swallowing, thyroid tissue involvement due to brucellosis should definitely be considered etiologically.

Spontaneous thyroid abscesses without underlying malignancy: a differential diagnosis for recent onset or rapidly growing thyroid masses.

Thyroid abscess is a rare cause of neck swelling in patients. The rich iodine environment, good vasculature and protective capsule make bacterial growth suboptimal. We present two cases of thyroid abscess without underlying thyroid cancer in immunocompromised patients presenting to a thyroid unit. The demographics, clinical details, investigation, management and outcomes of two patients with thyroid abscess were reviewed. Two octogenarian women were referred with neck lumps originating in the thyroid gland. Ultrasound demonstrated fluid collection in the thyroid, aspiration of which demonstrated Escherichia coli. The patients had underlying diabetes mellitus and raised inflammatory markers at presentation. Both were treated with antibiotics and follow-up demonstrated complete resolution of infection with no underlying thyroid neoplasm. Thyroid abscesses are an important differential diagnosis in rapidly growing thyroid masses due to the potential for rapid deterioration, especially in patients with conditions or medications causing immunosuppression. Urgent admission should be considered to facilitate prompt intervention and rapid recovery.

Thyroid-Gut-Axis: How Does the Microbiota Influence Thyroid Function?

A healthy gut microbiota not only has beneficial effects on the activity of the immune system, but also on thyroid function. Thyroid and intestinal diseases prevalently coexist-Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) are the most common autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) and often co-occur with Celiac Disease (CD) and Non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS). This can be explained by the damaged intestinal barrier and the following increase of intestinal permeability, allowing antigens to pass more easily and activate the immune system or cross-react with extraintestinal tissues, respectively. Dysbiosis has not only been found in AITDs, but has also been reported in thyroid carcinoma, in which an increased number of carcinogenic and inflammatory bacterial strains were observed. Additionally, the composition of the gut microbiota has an influence on the availability of essential micronutrients for the thyroid gland. Iodine, iron, and copper are crucial for thyroid hormone synthesis, selenium and zinc are needed for converting T4 to T3, and vitamin D assists in regulating the immune response. Those micronutrients are often found to be deficient in AITDs, resulting in malfunctioning of the thyroid. Bariatric surgery can lead to an inadequate absorption of these nutrients and further implicates changes in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and T3 levels. Supplementation of probiotics showed beneficial effects on thyroid hormones and thyroid function in general. A literature research was performed to examine the interplay between gut microbiota and thyroid disorders that should be considered when treating patients suffering from thyroid diseases. Multifactorial therapeutic and preventive management strategies could be established and more specifically adjusted to patients, depending on their gut bacteria composition. Future well-powered human studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of alterations in gut microbiota on thyroid function and diseases.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis with thyroid abscess in adults: clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Abscess in the thyroid gland is a rare but severe infectious disease. The condition can have anatomic or iatrogenic underlying causes. If untreated it could be fatal. Pathogens vary considerably. Treatment is intravenous antibiotics, drainage, and sometimes surgery. METHODS: The electronic medical records of all adult patients with acute thyroiditis 2003-2017 treated at the Karolinska University Hospital (catchment area 2 million) in Sweden were systematically reviewed. RESULTS: Five patients were found in the catchment area. One patient from another region but known to us was also included. Thus, six patients (aged 28-73 years) were included in the study. Median length of hospital stay was 7.5 days (4-79 days). All were treated with antibiotics (intravenous n = 5, oral n = 1). Total antibiotic treatment duration was 13.5 days (10-41 days). Blood cultures were positive in three (streptococcus pneumonia, streptococci sanguineous, pepto streptococci), deep tissue culture in three (Escherichia coli, Candida, Hemophilic influenza) and no positive culture at all in two. Drainage was used in three patients. All patients recovered without recurrences. Surgery was performed twice in the acute phase in one. There was no recurrence during 7 years (3-12) of follow-up, but one patient died after three years (severe heart failure and pneumonia). CONCLUSION: Thyroid abscess in adults is extremely rare nowadays in the developed world. With prompt antibiotic therapy, drainage and in some cases thyroidectomy the prognosis seems favourable.

First case report of thyroid abscess caused by Helicobacter cinaedi presenting with thyroid storm.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter cinaedi is a microaerobic Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacterium that causes enteritis, cellulitis, and bacteremia in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. While there have been increasing numbers of reported H. cinaedi infections recently, there has been no thyroid abscess case caused by H. cinaedi presenting with thyroid storm. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old Japanese man presented with a 9-day history of high fever associated with palpitations, dry cough, and chronic diarrhea. The patient had a history of Basedow's disease that had been treated with thiamazole in the past. During the current episode, the patient was diagnosed with thyroid storm and treated accordingly. The blood culture taken on admission was positive for H. cinaedi. This finding was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). A systemic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a thyroid abscess as the site of infection and cause of the bacteremia. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the pathogen of thyroid abscess as H. cinaedi. Clinical symptoms and laboratory data normalized on admission day 7 after treatment with both effective antibiotics and antithyroid drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The case study described a patient with a history of Basedow's disease that presented with a thyroid abscess caused by H. cinaedi with symptoms similar to those of thyroid storm. While this bacterium has been implicated in other infections, we believe this is the first time the bacteria has been documented to have caused a thyroid abscess.

Management of thyroid gland abscess. / Manejo del absceso de la glándula tiroides.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid abscess or acute suppurative thyroiditis is an unusual clinical condition. We present our experience with cases attended over 41 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on these patients reviewing their epidemiological characteristics and the diagnostic and therapeutic manoeuvres chosen for them all, as well as their clinical outcome. A group of 9 males and 5 females was studied, with ages ranging from 19 to 68 (mean of 40.6±15.4). These patients suffered 22 acute episodes, and 2 patients each had 4 episodes. RESULTS: Suppurative thyroiditis comprised 0.29% of the neck abscesses. Fine needle aspiration was performed in 13 cases to evacuate the collection and isolate the aetiological agent. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently identified. Nine patients underwent ultrasound and 7 computed tomography imaging studies. Surgery was the option for 10 patients, including drainage for 7, thyroidectomy for 4 and hemithyroidectomy for the remaining 2. Systemic or intralesional antibiotics and sclerosis of the gland were also carried out. Although one case presented with hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis in the acute phase, definitive hypothyroidism was observed in 5 patients at 6 months following discharge. The rate of success was 100%. CONCLUSION: Thyroid gland suppuration is a very infrequent circumstance in neck pathology, and the options for its treatment are varied, from conservative to invasive techniques according to the microbial and radiologic findings.

Thyroid abscess due to Eikenella corrodens in a pediatric patient.

Eikenella corrodens is one of the HACEK bacteria that is commensal microorganism of the oropharngeal flora. E. corrodens has been increasingly reported to cause pyogenic abscesses, especially in diabetic or immunocompromised adults. It is less frequently reported in immunocompotent children. Here, we report a deep neck infection, including the thyroid gland, in a previously healthy girl. E. corrodens was the only microorganism isolated in two different cultures. Antibiotic susceptibility is variable, in contrast to other oropharyngeal pathogens. Thus, to avoid delayed treatment, E. corrodens should always be considered in infections of the head and neck area.

Otolaryngology/head and neck region manifestations of Brucella.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with Brucella infection present with nonspecific symptoms originating from different organs. In this study, we investigated the manifestations involving principally the otolaryngology/head and neck region. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort chart review. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with brucellosis in a tertiary medical center. Medical records of 55 patients treated for positive Brucella blood cultures between 2007 and 2016 were analyzed. Clinical manifestations localized to the otolaryngology/head and neck region were evaluated. RESULTS: Most patients (78%) in our study group lived in rural areas. There was an almost equal gender distribution and a wide age range (2-77 years). Nonspecific symptoms, including fever (71%), fatigue (31%), weight loss (20%), and night sweats (32.7%) were the most common. Of the specific organ systems affected by Brucella, the osteoarthritic system was most commonly infected (45.5%). Three patients (5.5%) presented with predominantly localized otolaryngology/head and neck region symptoms, consisting of necrotic lymphadenopathy or a thyroid abscess. All patients underwent drainage procedures, and the diagnosis was confirmed by positive blood and pus cultures. Complete resolution was achieved with prolonged antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Brucella infection should be suspected in patients with nonspecific constitutional symptoms associated with neck lymphadenopathy or thyroid abscess, especially in those living in rural areas. A high index of suspicion is mandatory for proper diagnosis and treatment. Formal drainage and prolonged antibiotic treatments are required. We strongly recommend simple drainage and not excision as the mainstay of surgical treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:2056-2059, 2018.

[Clinical problems in medical mycology: Problem number 51]. / Problemas clínicos en micología médica: problema número 51.

A 48 year-old immunocompetent woman, who had a nodular lesion in the neck and a dense infiltrate at the lower lobe of the left lung, presented at the Mycology Unit of Muñiz Hospital of Buenos Aires City. The pulmonary infiltrate disappeared spontaneously 3 months later. The histopathological study of the nodular lesion showed capsulated yeasts (mucicarmin and alcian blue positive stains) compatible with Cryptococcus. The mycological study of a new sample, obtained by a nodular puncture, allowed the isolation of yeasts, identified as Cryptococcus gattii (VGII). Latex test for Cryptococcus capsular antigen in serum was positive (1/100). CSF cultures rendered negative results. Fluconazole at a daily dose of 800mg was given during 45 days with partial improvement; as cultures from a new clinical sample were positive for Cryptococcus, the antimycotic was changed to itraconazole 400mg/day for 5 months, with an excellent clinical response.

The microbiota and autoimmunity: Their role in thyroid autoimmune diseases.

Since the 1970s, the role of infectious diseases in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease (GD) has been an object of intensive research. The last decade has witnessed many studies on Yersinia enterocolitica, Helicobacter pylori and other bacterial organisms and their potential impact on GD. Retrospective, prospective and molecular binding studies have been performed with contrary outcomes. Until now it is not clear whether bacterial infections can trigger autoimmune thyroid disease. Common risk factors for GD (gender, smoking, stress, and pregnancy) reveal profound changes in the bacterial communities of the gut compared to that of healthy controls but a pathogenetic link between GD and dysbiosis has not yet been fully elucidated. Conventional bacterial culture, in vitro models, next generation and high-throughput DNA sequencing are applicable methods to assess the impact of bacteria in disease onset and development. Further studies on the involvement of bacteria in GD are needed and may contribute to the understanding of pathogenetic processes. This review will examine available evidence on the subject.

[Thyroid abscess revealing Graves-Basedow disease: about a case and review of the literature]. / Abcès thyroïdien révélant un basedow: à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Thyroid abscess is a very rare clinical entity. It accounts for 0.1% of the surgical pathologies of the thyroid gland. The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gland give it resistance to pathogens. Streptococcal and Staphylococcal are the most common. Tuberculosis is rarely reported in the literature. The occurrence of infection associated with toxic goiter is exceptional. The authors report a rare case of a 22-year-old young patient with thyroid abscess revealing a toxic goitre. He presented to our otorhinolaryngology emergency unit with anterior cervical swelling, slightly lateralized to the left, moving on swallowing, associated with hemoptysis, signs of thyroid dysfunction, fever, night sweats. Cervical CT scan showed a mass occupying the left lobe of the thyroid gland, with fluid content, measuring 2 cm and with purulent fluid collected via fine needle aspiration biopsy. Cytobacteriological examination showed Staphylococcus with positive BK test. Patient underwent chest radiograph showing right apical pulmonary alveolar. Cytobacteriological examination of sputum isolated Koch bacillus. Thyroid biological assessment was in favor of Graves-Basedow disease. The management was medical and included parenteral triple antibiotic, anti-bacillary and anti-thyroid synthesis therapy with good evolution. The diagnosis of tuberculosis should be suspected in patients with thyroid abscess formation associated with an unclear clinical picture. This is most often caused by hematogenous spread from another primary infection, particularly a pulmonary infection. The treatment is based on antibacillary drugs sometimes associated with surgery.

Primary tuberculosis of thyroid.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the thyroid gland, either in its primary or secondary form, is an extremely rare occurrence. It is infrequent even in countries with high incidence and prevalence of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. We report here a case of primary tuberculosis of thyroid presenting to us with sudden onset thyroid swelling since 20 days.

Cytological Diagnosis of Primary Thyroid Tuberculosis.

Primary thyroid tuberculosis is an extremely rare disease, even in countries where other forms of tuberculosis are abundant. TT has no age bar but usually affects women in fourth and fifth decade. Hereby, we report a case of 16-years-old girl presented with complaint of progressively increasing, painful thyroid swelling. Diagnosis of TT was made on cytology and there was no evidence of involvement of any other organ by tuberculosis. Despite of its rarity, TT is usually misdiagnosed. So, a clinician should always consider this entity in the differential diagnosis of thyroid swelling. Fine needle aspiration cytology is the best diagnostic method and can result in the avoidance of unnecessary thyroid surgeries.