Ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology of acute suppurative thyroiditis

Although acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare disorder, from January. 1985 to December 1991, we observed 11 cases of acute suppurative thyroiditis in our hospital. All patients underwent thyroid ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy and cytologic evaluation of the specimens. In eight cases, pus cultures were positive, four of them grew Gram negative bacteria. Ultrasonographic finding showed either local or diffuse low to a very low echo density on both lobes. However, a cystic lesion was also found. Polymorphonuclear cells were the main elements in the smears from the thyroid aspirates. In conclusion, thyroid ultrasound with fine needle aspiration and cytology can assist in confirming the early diagnosis of acute suppurative thyroiditis.