[Clinical study of 15 children with acute suppurative thyroiditis]

From 1969 to 1990, 15 children with acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) were diagnosed in our hospital. Their clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings were reviewed. The characteristic features were as follows: 1) Males to female ratio was 1.5:1. 2) The ages at diagnosis ranged from 3 to 14 years, with a mean age of 6 years. 3) A painful, tender mass in the anterior neck was detected in all cases and fever was detected in 10 cases (67%). 4) The left lobe of the thyroid was affected in 11 cases (73%), whereas the right lobe was affected in the remaining 4 cases. No cases was bilateral. 5) Five cases (33%) were found to be recurrent. 6) Eight pathogenic organisms were identified on culture from 7 cases; among them 3 were due to anaerobic pathogen. 7) Leukocytosis was increased and acute-phase reactant tests were positive in most cases. 8) Thyroid function was found to be normal in all 9 cases examined. 9) Radiologic studies, which included radionuclide thyroid scan, ultrasonography, computed tomography and barium esophagogram, were very helpful for the diagnosis of AST. 10) A barium esophagogram was performed in 9 cases and a fistula originating from the pyriform sinus was found in 4 cases (44%). 11) Three cases (20%) had the complete removal of the fistula as a permanent cure. This report summarizes the clinical features of 15 children with acute suppurative thyroiditis diagnosed in our hospital during the past twenty years.