Purulent Thyroiditis-a Clinical Study of 5 Cases

Between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2006, 13279 patients were operated on due to various forms of goitre, of which five cases were diagnosed with purulent thyroiditis-one child aged 8, three women and one man all between 35 and 81 years of age. The course of the disease was unusual. In three of the patients cancer was suspected. In all of the patients hard nodules were discovered within the thyroid gland, ultrasonographically heterogeneous and hypo-echogenic, although scintigraphic examination showed “cold” nodules. The child presented regional lymph node enlargement. Except in one case, all patients were apyretic.

The rapid growth of the thyroid gland and symptoms of compression were observed in 2 cases. In one of them, trache-ostomy was required. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland revealed the presence of profuse purulent infiltration in one case. Neither thyroid dysfunction nor autoimmune changes were detected. A subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in all patients. In the paediatric case, the enlarged lymph nodes were also resected. In 3 cases, thyroid abscess was diagnosed and drained and staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococcus epidermidis and streptococcus pyogenes were found. Microscopic examination proved the presence of aspergillus fumigatus in one case. Antibiotic therapy was applied postoperatively and all the patients recovered.

Conclusions: 1. The clinical course of purulent thyroiditis leads to a diagnostic challenge. The surgical treatment of purulent thyroiditis allows for a faster recovery for the patient.     

Subphrenic and pleural abscess due to spilled gallstones.

BACKGROUND: A 70-year-old male approximately 3 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy presented to his primary care physician with a 4-month history of generalized malaise. METHODS: A workup included magnetic resonance imaging that revealed a perihepatic abscess. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided drainage, with the removal of 1400 mL of purulent fluid and placement of 2 drains. Computed tomographic scanning showed resolution, and he was discharged home on oral antibiotics. At 2-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, denying any constitutional symptoms. However, abdominal computed tomographic scanning revealed recurrence of the abscess, which measured approximately 18 x 9 x 7.5 cm, with mass effect on the liver. The patient was placed on intravenous antibiotics and scheduled for operative drainage. The abdomen was entered with a right subcostal incision, and 900 mL of purulent fluid was drained. We also noted abscess erosion through the inferolateral aspect of the right diaphragm into the pleural space. The pleural abscess was loculated and isolated from the lung parenchyma. Palpation within the abscess cavity revealed 9 large gallstones. Following copious irrigation and debridement of necrotic tissue, 3 drains were placed and the incision was closed. RESULTS: The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on postoperative day number 6. Follow-up imaging at 3 months demonstrated resolution of the collection. CONCLUSION: Spillage of gallstones is a complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, occurring in 6% to 16% of all cases. Retained stones rarely result in a problem, but when complications arise, aggressive surgical intervention is usually necessary.     

Acute Suppurative Klebsiella Thyroiditis: A Case Report

Acute suppurative thyroiditis and thyroid abscess are extremely rare disorders. The most common pathogens causing acute suppurative thyroiditis are Gram-positive bacteria, including staphylococcal and streptococcal species. Thyroid abscess is mostly located in the left thyroid lobe. We report the case of a 75-year-old female patient with acute suppurative thyroiditis and right lobe thyroid abscess caused by Klebsiella spp. The patient had a firm, livid, hardly mobile cervical swelling. Axial computed tomography image showed soft-tissue swelling, an abscess in the right thyroid lobe and swelling of the thyroid gland. The diagnosis was established on a smear culture result. The patient was diabetic and had been operated on for goitre fifty years before. On indirect laryngoscopic examination, the patient was found to have right vocal cord paralysis. Infection and abscess resolved following surgical drainage and treatment with intravenous antibiotics, while the vocal cord paralysis persisted. Diabetes mellitus and previous thyroid surgery, in which sutures were used with unresorptive material, might have been the precipitating factors for the patient to acquire this unusual infection.     

Lung abscess which ruptured during the medical treatment of lung abscess; report of a case

63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever and cough for about 2 months. Laboratory data showed marked inflammatory changes, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans revealed right-sided hydrothorax, atelectasis of the right middle lobe, and a cystic mass in the right middle lobe. We diagnosed the patients as having lung abscess and empyema. Following the intravenous antibiotic chemotherapy, symptoms and laboratory data showed the improvement, however, on the 11th hospital day, he developed high fever again. A chest CT showed pneumopyothorax suggesting the rupture of lung abscess. Since the chest tube drainage was ineffective, open chest surgery was performed. Curettage of both thoracic and abscess cavity with closure of air leakage successfully cured the pyothorax.     

Cervical thymic cyst as a cause of acute suppurative thyroiditis

A case of acute suppurative thyroiditis following a perithyroidal abscess, which was thought to have resulted from infection of a cervical thymic cyst, is reported herein. The patient was an 8 year old asthmatic Japanese boy who originally presented with tender swelling of the left anterior neck in July, 1986. Although pharyngography could not clearly demonstrate the pyriform sinus fistula, a hypoechoic area around the left lobe of the thyroid gland was noted on ultrasonography. Incisional drainage revealed Streptococcus milleri. A diagnosis of acute suppurative thyroiditis was established, and a cystic tubular mass was surgically resected from the left perithyroidal space some time later. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed partly cystic thymic tissue along with parathyroid tissue. These observations suggested that acute suppurative thyroiditis in this case was caused by a perithyroidal abscess and that a perithyroidal abscess may also result from infection of a cervical thymic cyst.     

Primary Abscess of the Omentum: Report of a Case

We report a case of a primary abscess of the omentum without any obvious etiology. A 62-year-old man was referred to our clinic with lower abdominal pain, and computed tomography showed an intra-abdominal abscess in the left pelvic area. Laparotomy revealed that the abscess adhered to the urinary bladder and abdominal wall, but no perforation of the alimentary tract was identified and there was no foreign body in the abscess cavity. A culture of the abscess fluid grew Clostridium perfringens. The patient was discharged on the 16th hospital day after an uneventful postoperative course without any complications.     

Aspergillus pituitary abscess

Summary Background. Pituitary abscess is rare and most of the cases are of bacterial origin. True fungal pituitary abscess is extremely rare only five cases have been reported. In this report, we present a case of aspergillus pituitary abscess. Mortality rate in intracranial aspergillosis is close to 100% especially in immunsuppressed patients when undiagnosed and untreated. In focal CNS aspergillosis total cure can be achieved in approximately 30% of the cases by surgical drainage and intensive antifungal therapy. Although this is the first reported case with magnetic resonance imaging examination the definitive diagnosis was established only by histopathological examinationClinical presentation. A 42 year-old man was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of sellar suprasellar mass accompanied by frontal headache and decreased visual acuity. His medical history was insignificant. Physical examination was normal and the patient was afebrile. The neurological examination revealed bilateral papilledema and bitemporal hemianopsia but no stiff neck and motor or sensory deficit. In the light of MRI examination, the preoperative diagnosis was pituitary abscess secondary to paranasal sinus infection or hemorrhagic pituitary adenoma.Intervention. The patient was successfully treated by transsphenoidal surgery. Histopathological examination of sphenoid sinus mucosa revealed normal mucosal appearence with inflammation and histopathological examination of the intrasellar mass resulted in the diagnosis of aspergillosis. All cultures obtained from sphenoid sinus were reported as having no growth. However in the second week after the operation fungal culture of the intrasellar mass grew aspergillus. After 8 weeks of amphothericine-B treatment, the patient was discharged. At the last follow up examination two years after the operation, the patient was symptom free with normal pituitary function.Conclusion. Aspergillus pituitary abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pituitary mass. The correct diagnosis of pituitary aspergillosis can only be achieved by histopathological examination because clinical and radiological findings including MRI are not specific and culture results are obtained later. Immediately after the diagnosis, intensive antifungal therapy should be started for a successful treatment.     

Primary psoas abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Introduction and objectivesTo report to the literature a new case of primary psoas abscess.MethodsThe patient is a 65 years old woman who suffered back and left hip pain for approximately 1 month. A CTA showed a retroperitoneal mass that involved the left Psoas. It was drained 1800 cc of purulent fluid infected by Streptococo pneumoniae.ResultsIn a CTA made 21 days after drainage, showed a very small residual collection.ConclusionsPrimary Psoas Abscess are a very rare entity, with a low rate of mortatility if well treated.     

Neonatal brain abscess with intracystic hemorrhage--case report

The authors describe the case of an 11-day-old boy with high fever and signs of meningeal irritation in whom computed tomography demonstrated a large brain abscess with intracystic hemorrhage in the right temporal lobe. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis indicated purulent meningitis caused by Escherichia coli. After aspiration of the abscess contents, the entire ventricular system gradually enlarged. Despite repeated ventricular drainage and ventriculoperitoneal shunting, the lateral horn of the left lateral ventricle remained dilated. The isolation of the lateral ventricle may have resulted from septation due to the inflammatory reaction. This fluid was also shunted to the peritoneal cavity.     

The management of umbilicial hernias in infancy and childhood.

Umbilical hernia, a common finding in infants and young children, generally is regarded as a benign condition that often disappears spontaneously. Umbilical defects are particularly common in the black population, the incidence having been reported to be as high as 26.6%.¹ Premature infants have been observed to have a higher incidence of umbilical hernias (84% in newborns weighing 1000–1500 g) than do infants with a birth weight of over 2500 g (approximately 21%).²Surgical repair of umbilical hernias is frequently postponed and often not performed because complications of the condition are rare and the majority of the defects close within 2 yr; more than 85% close before the child is 6 yr of age.³ Walker⁴ observed that the diameter of the umbilical ring is the most reliable indication of whether spontaneous closure of the fascial defect will occur. Most umbilical hernias with an internal fascial ring diameter of less than 0.5 cm close spontaneously by the age of 2 yr; however, most hernias with an internal fascial ring diameter greater than 1.0 cm do not close until the patient is 4 yr of age or frequently never.The decision regarding whether or not to repair umbilical defects in infants and young children has varied greatly among surgeons, extending from the view that no umbilical hernia should be repaired to the opposite position that almost all hernias in children beyond the age of 1 yr should be repaired. Haller et al.⁵ have provided a helpful guideline for selection of patients for operation and recommend that umbilical defects of 1.5 cm or greater diameter should be repaired in girls over the age of 2 yr and in all children over 4 yr of age to prevent the serious complication of incarceration in adulthood.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the current criteria used in selection of infants and young children for repair of umbilical hernias and to document the incidence of complications caused by the hernia in a combined clinical experience from three large teaching hospitals.     

Surgical treatment for Graves' disease: a long term follow-up of 325 patients

Postoperative thyroid status was classified into 6 categories on the basis of serum free thyroxine index (FTI), serum triiodothyronine (T-3) and serum TSH concentration. Review of 325 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease more than 4 years previously showed that 25 patients (7.7 per cent) had recurrent hyperthyroidism. Six patients (1.8 per cent) were classified as equivocal hyperthyroid since either FTI or T-3 was above the normal range. Two hundred and twenty-two patients (68.3 per cent) were unequivocally euthyroid and 33 patients (10.3 per cent) were euthyroid with elevated TSH levels. Twenty patients (6.2 per cent) were equivocal hypothyroid since either their FTI or T-3 values were below the normal range and TSH were increased. Hypothyroidism was present in 19 patients (5.8 per cent), of whom 11 had no clinical manifestation of thyroid dysfunction. The incidence of hypothyroidism did not correlate with the intervals between operation and review. The second review, performed in 189 patients 18 months after the first, showed that there was a change in thyroid functional status in 46 patients, of whom 32 had an increased level of function, including one hypothyroid and 7 equivocal hypothyroid patients who became euthyroid spontaneously. Thus postoperative hypothyroidism in some patients can recover without medication. Also thyroid function in some postoperative patients is not maintained at a fixed level but may fluctuate.     

Tuberculosis of the Thyroid Gland. A Case Report

Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is a very rare condition. A case of a 47-year-old female with a history of a euthyroid multi-nodular goitre is presented. The patient developed hoarseness due to right recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, confirmed with indirect laryngoscopy. On repeated ultrasound, volumetric progression of a dominant nodule in the inferior part of the right thyroid lobe was noticed. Fine needle aspiration was inconclusive. Diagnosis was ultimately based on histopathology of the surgical resection specimen.     

Surgically treated mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a 6-year-old boy; report of a case

A 6-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with a history of recurrent obstructive pneumonia and hemoptysis. A chest computed tomography (CT) showed atelectasis in the left lower lobe. Angiograpy, which was performed for the suspicion of pulmonary sequestration, showed no feeding artery and revealed bleeding from the bronchial artery in the left lower lobe. As hemoptysis would not stop, an emergency left lower lobectomy was performed. Macroscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed a mass measuring 20 x 15 x 17 mm in the S8 proximal lung parenchyma, bronchiectasis, and an abscess in the distal lung parenchyma. Histopathologic examination determined the tumor was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed some tumor cells were positive for CA 19-9. The child has not had a recurrence 3 years postoperatively.     

Thyroid hemangioma

A case is presented of a fifty-six year old man with a thyroid hemangioma presenting as a neck mass with tracheal deviation and unilateral vocal cord paralysis. A standard thyroid scan yielded equivocal findings. The diagnosis was determined preoperatively by the use of a ^99mtechnetium angiogram that disclosed the vascular nature of the lesion. Subsequent arteriography demonstrated the main arterial supply of the mass to be from both inferior thyroid arteries. Operative removal of the mass was accomplished through a standard transverse cervical incision. Pathologic study revealed that the vascular tumor involved both the surrounding normal thyroid parenchyma and also a microfollicular adenoma. This case points out the value of utilizing all available diagnostic means in atypical cases of thyroid disease.     

Ruptured liver abscess presenting as pneumoperitoneum

The presence of free air within the peritoneal cavity, referred to as pneumoperitoneum, in 85% to 90% of cases is due to perforated bowel. The rare case is reported of pneumoperitoneum resulting from a ruptured liver abscess in a young male with no comorbidity.A ruptured pyogenic left lobe liver abscess in a 23-year-old male was accompanied by chest X-ray features suggestive of free gas under the diaphragm with peritonitis. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, with localization and drainage of the liver abscess and thorough peritoneal lavage. Culture of the pus from the liver abscess grew Klebsiella sensitive to Piperacillin and Tazobactam, and antibiotic treatment was administere Conclusion: Although pneumoperitoneum resulting from a ruptured liver abscess is rare, it must be kept in mind as a possible source, especially when the hollow organs are normal.     

Primary iliopsoas abscess successfully treated by ultrasonographically guided percutaneous drainage

We report a case of primary iliopsoas abscess successfully treated by ultrasonographically guided percutaneous drainage. A 56-year-old man presented at our hospital with lumbago, right-sided back pain, fever (temperature 38.5°C) and chills. On physical examination, we found dark red skin, swelling, and tenderness localized at the right side at the back of his waist. Laboratory examination showed leukocytosis (white blood cell count 9700/mm³) with a leftward shift and elevated C-reactive protein (5.2 mg/dl). Ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a hypodense lesion in the right iliopsoas muscle extending to the subcutaneous tissue. About 50 ml of thick yellow pus was obtained by ultrasonographically guided aspiration drainage. A drain catheter was inserted in the abscess cavity. Laboratory findings improved and clinical symptoms abated rapidly after drainage. On the twenty-first day after drainage, US and CT showed that the abscess was no longer present. The patient was discharged after 32 days of hospitalization. As possible primary diseases causing iliopsoas abscess, such as digestive tract disease, tuberculosis, and osteomyelitis, were not found, we diagnosed the disease as primary iliopsoas abscess. Although surgical drainage has been performed in most reported cases of iliopsoas abscess, this case report shows that ultrasonographically guided percutaneous drainage is also effective for treating primary iliopsoas abscess if it is diagnosed early enough. Received for publication on Aug. 20, 1997; accepted on March 4, 1998     

Schloffer's tumor: Case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The so-called Schloffer tumor (ST) is a rare inflammatory pseudotumor. It usually appears several years after abdominal surgery or trauma.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 32-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of a painful mass in the left hypochondrium, postprandial distension and a weight loss of about 14 kg. He had had a left inguinal hernioplasty without mesh the previous year. Ultrasonography of the abdomen showed a 2 cm × 2 cm hypoechoic lesion in contact with the abdominal wall. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed a heterogeneous mass in the great omentum.Laparoscopic exploration revealed an omental mass firmly attached to the abdominal wall. A great deal of purulent fluid spread during the procedure. Due to the difficult exploration, the procedure converted to hand assisted laparoscopy. We find an omental tumor involving the stomach and the transverse colon. Inside the mass there were purulent material and non-absorbable sutures. A drain was left inside the cavity of the abscess. Histological examination showed chronic inflammation.

DISCUSSION

ST characteristically presents a central chronic abscess containing non-absorbable sutures. It has been described after appendectomy, hernioplasty, hysterectomy, gastrectomy or colonic resections. Although benign, its progressive growth and infiltrating behavior resemble malignant tumors.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that a mini-invasive approach should always be performed. The interesting thing about this case is the appearance of the tumor in a place far away from the previous surgical site. A simple drainage and removal of suture material solves the problem of these patients.     

Transverse Colonic Cancer Presenting as an Anterior Abdominal Wall Abscess: Report of a Case

An 81-year-old man who had been aware of a right anterior abdominal mass for 1 week was admitted to our hospital on July 3, 1999, after the mass had perforated and was secreting mucinous purulent material. Computed tomography clearly showed an anterior abdominal wall abscess and a large intraabdominal tumor that contained a fistula-like structure. Barium enema revealed an apple-core sign at the transverse colon, with a fistula that connected the colon to the abscess cavity. Transverse colonic cancer complicated by an anterior abdominal wall abscess was diagnosed, and an extended right hemicolectomy was performed. We did not perform en bloc excision of the full thickness of the anterior abdominal wall, including the abscess, because the defect was determined to be too large to repair. Thus, when curative resection is not feasible, as in our patient, resection of the primary tumor with en bloc partial resection of the adherent parietal wall should be performed if possible, as this procedure has the potential to improve the postoperative quality of life of the patient. Received: October 29, 1999 / Accepted: September 26, 2000     

MRI findings of lumbosacral metastasis from occult follicular thyroid cancer: report of a case

A 63-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with bowel and bladder incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 13 × 12 × 12 cm mass invading the posterior regions of the L4, L5, S1 and S2 vertebrae with broad paravertebral soft tissue invasion. A Tru-cut biopsy of the mass was performed. The histopathological examination revealed metastatic follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid functional tests were within the normal limits. Thyroid sonography revealed a heterogeneous, ill-defined, 14 × 9 mm hypoechoic solid nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid gland. On thyroid scintigraphy, an area of focal hyperactivity was detected in the right lobe at the nodule localization. Total thyroidectomy was performed, and the primary tumor pathology was determined to be follicular thyroid cancer. To our knowledge, only a few cases of lumbosacral cord compression as the initial manifestation of follicular thyroid carcinoma have been reported in the literature. We aimed to discuss the MRI findings of tumors in this age group with lumbosacral localization.