Giant thyroid abscess related to postpartum Brucella infection

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Thyroid gland infections, including acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST), are rare but potentially life-threatening conditions.
• Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, can affect multiple organs, but thyroid involvement is uncommon.
• Abscess formation in the thyroid may not be clinically apparent until advanced stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first case of a thyroid abscess caused by brucellosis in the early postpartum period.
• To illustrate the ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this rare presentation.
• To contribute to the understanding of rare complications of brucellosis and postpartum infections.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a patient with rapid onset neck swelling in the first postpartum month.
• Diagnostic imaging including ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Literature review to identify similar reported cases.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a rapidly growing thyroid abscess predominantly affecting the left lobe.
• USG and MRI provided detailed visualization of the abscess and surrounding thyroid tissue.
• The abscess was confirmed to be secondary to brucellosis, a rare etiology for thyroid abscess, particularly in the postpartum period.

Conclusions:

• Thyroid abscess is a rare but serious complication that can arise from brucellosis.
• Early postpartum brucellosis can manifest with unusual presentations like thyroid abscess.
• USG and MRI are crucial for the diagnosis and characterization of thyroid abscesses.