Acute thyroiditis

Acute thyroiditis (suppurative thyroiditis) is currently a relatively rare infectious purulent inflammation of the thyroid gland.

Etiology

It is usually caused by a bacterial inflammatory condition in the orofacial area or by septic metastasis in immunocompromised persons, or it may have a tuberculous origin.

The clinical picture

• Local redness above the thyroid gland;
• palpable pain;
• fever.

Diagnosis

Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland

The clinical picture is the basis for diagnosis. The laboratory findings include increased sedimentation, leukocytosis, and high CRP. The imaging methods used are: USG and thin needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).

Therapy

Broad-spectrum antibiotics in high doses, but best targeted after culture examination.

References

Related Articles

• Subacute thyroiditis
• Chronic (autoimmune) thyroiditis
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland

References

• ČEŠKA, Richard – ŠTULC, Tomáš, et al. Interna. 2. edition. 2015. 909 pp. ISBN 978-80-7387-895-5.