Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis in Childhood: An Atypical Presentation.

Neck stiffness is a common clinical sign in children presenting to the emergency department that may indicate a wide variety of diagnoses. Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) is an infection of the thyroid gland caused by a bacterium, virus, or, less commonly, fungus. It presents as an acute or subacute development of an anterior cervical mass, with associated inflammatory signs. The pressure upon neck muscles may be reflected as a limitation of cervical mobility. AST is often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection, and pyriform sinus fistula is the most common predisposing factor. It is particularly uncommon in the pediatric age, with limited cases reported in the literature. Therefore, a heightened suspicion is required for proper diagnosis and timely intervention, due to its high mortality. Prompt treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotic therapy and drainage is mandatory to prevent the numerous complications associated, namely, mediastinitis and sepsis. We report the case of a two-year-old female child admitted with a two-week history of intermittent high-grade fever and sore throat, followed by prostration and limitation in neck movement on admission. Examination revealed neck stiffness with positive Kernig and Brudzinski signs. The laboratory tests showed elevated inflammatory parameters. Cranial computed tomography (CT) scan and lumbar puncture were normal. On day 2 after admission, an anterior cervical mass with slight signs of fluctuation was detected. Ultrasound was compatible with a hemorrhagic/overinfected thyroid nodule, and the patient was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Due to clinical worsening, a cervical CT scan was performed, which documented a thyroid abscess with extension into the retropharyngeal space. She underwent surgical drainage, and Streptococcus anginosus and mixed anaerobes were isolated, sensitive to ongoing antibiotherapy. On multidisciplinary follow-up, an esophageal barium study, laryngoscopy, and cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed, revealing no anatomical defects. AST is a rare disease in children, but potentially fatal, so its early recognition and treatment are essential. We aim to draw attention to this disease and its differential diagnosis to reduce the associated morbimortality.

The Importance of Differential Diagnosis in Splenogonadal Fusion: A Case Report.

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare, benign congenital malformation characterized by the association of splenic tissue and gonads (typically testicles). It is a condition of male predominance and can be classified into two types: continuous, if the spleen and gonad are united by a splenic cord or fibrous tissue, or discontinuous. Splenogonadal fusion is often associated with other congenital anomalies such as cryptorchidism, limb defects, and micrognathia. Differential diagnosis can be difficult and includes inguinal hernia, spermatic cord cyst, cryptorchidism, or testicular mass. Due to little knowledge of the pathology, unnecessary orchidectomies are often performed. A previously healthy five-year-old boy was sent to a pediatric surgery appointment due to testicular asymmetry. The physical examination showed a painless, nodular mass adhering to the upper pole of the left testicle, without any palpable inguinal masses. Tumor markers were negative, and a testicular ultrasound with Doppler revealed a mass suggestive of an accessory testicle. Left inguinal surgical exploration revealed the presence of a mass joined by fibrous tissue to the upper pole of the testicle, but no connection to the native spleen was found. Total excision was performed with the testicle's preservation. The anatomopathological analysis revealed morphological aspects compatible with splenic tissue with normal characteristics. The diagnosis of splenogonadal fusion is rare and complex, requires several differential diagnoses, and is often made intraoperatively.The prognosis is excellent as long as there are no associated malformations. A high level of suspicion for this pathology, with recognition of the anatomical structures, can avoid unnecessary orchidectomy.

Diffuse infantile hepatic haemangioma-how to manage an incidental but potentially lethal finding.

Infantile hepatic haemangioma (IHH) is a rare vascular tumour that is potentially lethal due to its associated complications, including heart failure, hepatic failure, hypothyroidism and abdominal compartment syndrome. The authors report a case of an asymptomatic diffuse IHH in a newborn male, which was presented as an incidental finding at the time that the patient was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. The patient was treated with increasing doses of propranolol that were well tolerated. With the regression of the IHH by the time that the patient reached one year of age, there was a significant imagiologic improvement. Because there is no consensus on the optimal approach for the treatment of liver tumours in newborns, it is important to adopt a systematic approach. After the diagnosis of diffuse IHH has been established, the decision to initiate treatment and the therapeutic of choice is often controversial. Regular follow-up is recommended to monitor possible complications.

Recurrent gastric lactobezoar in an infant.

Lactobezoars are a type of bezoar composed of undigested milk and mucus. The aetiology is likely multifactorial, being classically described in association with pre-term, low-birth weight infants fed with hyperconcentrated formula. The authors present a case of lactobezoar recurrence in a pre-term infant with oesophageal atresia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of recurrence of lactobezoar.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis presenting as a pseudotumour in a 5-year-old boy.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGPN) is a rare, severe and atypical form of chronic pyelonephritis. It is characterised by destruction of the renal parenchyma and replacement with a chronic inflammatory infiltrate and lipid-laden macrophages resulting in a non-functional kidney. The authors report a case of a 5-year-old boy presented with a history of abdominal pain, malaise, anorexia and weight loss for 2 months. Physical examination revealed a large flank mass and the child was directed to the oncology unit on suspicion of renal tumour. Based on clinical examination and imaging, the presumptive diagnosis of XGPN of the left kidney was made. A left transperitoneal nephrectomy was performed and the histology confirmed the diagnosis. Although rare, XGPN is a clinically important entity that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an atypical-appearance renal mass in paediatric age.