Recurrent acute suppurative thyroiditis

Two patients had two recurrent episodes each of acute suppurative thyroiditis. Circulating concentrations of plasma thyrotrophin, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine were within the range of normal. Antibodies to thyroid microsome or thyroglobulin were not found. Anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, and Peptococcus were identified as causative agents, indicating that anaerobic organisms may play an important role in the pathologic process. The present cases are the third and fourth reported cases of recurrent acute suppurative thyroiditis in the literature.