A Rare Case of Neck Swelling: Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis With End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare life-threatening endocrine emergency. The thyroid gland has rich vascularity and lymphatic drainage, has large amounts of iodine in the tissue, generates hydrogen peroxide, and is encapsulated. Owing to these factors, infection of the thyroid gland is rare. The clinical presentation of acute suppurative thyroiditis closely resembles that of subacute thyroiditis, with a differentiation possible only on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). However, differentiating these two conditions is important because the management of these two conditions differs drastically. Management includes intravenous antibiotics, drainage of abscesses, and sometimes surgery may be required. Here, we present a case of thyroid abscess caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), diagnosed using FNAC of the thyroid gland and blood culture.