Occult Candida thyroid abscess diagnosed by gallium-67 scanning

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Infectious disease
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Persistent fever in immunocompromised patients poses diagnostic challenges.
• Fungal infections can present insidiously in immunocompromised hosts.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing serious infections.

Observation:

• A clinically silent fungal thyroid abscess was identified.
• Gallium-67 citrate scanning was instrumental in localization.
• The patient had a history of leukemia, indicating an immunocompromised state.

Findings:

• Successful surgical drainage of the fungal thyroid abscess was achieved.
• Gallium-67 citrate scanning demonstrated high efficacy in detecting the occult infection.
• Whole-body radionuclide scanning is a valuable diagnostic tool for fever of unknown origin in immunocompromised patients.

Implications:

• Highlights the utility of Ga-67 citrate scanning in diagnosing deep-seated fungal infections.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering fungal etiologies in febrile immunocompromised patients.
• Demonstrates the successful integration of nuclear medicine and surgical intervention for favorable outcomes.