Abstract
: Suppurative thyroiditis is rare and associated with significant mortality. A high level of suspicion and aggressive management is needed to reduce the risk of serious outcomes. A 67-year-old male with a medical history including diabetes type 2, cognitive impairment, and ESRD presented with decreased appetite and lethargy for a few days. He presented with fever, tachycardia, and hypertension. There was a non-tender fullness around the anterior neck region. Initial laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis to 24K/uL, lactic acid of 5. 0 mmol/L, ESR 100 mm/hr, CRP 419 ng/dl, and blood culture was positive for gram-positive cocci in clusters for which he was started on iv vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam. CT scan on admission showed a probable inflammatory process in the neck originating from the thyroid bed, concerning acute thyroiditis and developing abscess/abscesses vs. very atypical presentation of thyroid cancer. Thyroid ultrasound showed diffuse thyroid enlargement with heterogeneous echogenicity. Repeat CT obtained due to apparent thyroid enlargement with erythema and tenderness on examination and fever on day 7 showed extensive heterogeneous thyroid enlargement with ill-defined margins to the adjacent soft tissue structures. A modified barium swallow revealed severe oropharyngeal dysphagia leading to thyroid fine-needle aspiration of both thyroid lobes by interventional radiology and subsequent urgent incision and drainage (I&D) of the right neck and thyroid biopsy under general anesthesia by ENT. I&D showed purulent drainage from the thyroid. Cultures were positive for MRSA. Surgical pathology reported a necrotic muscle and abscess and fragment of thyroid tissue. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) on admission revealed a TSH 0.31 mcIU/ml (reference: 0.30 - 5. 0 mcIU/ml) and a free T4 of 2.21 ng/dl (reference: 0.76- 1.46 ng/dl) and repeat TFTs with a TSH of 0.30 mcIU/mL, free T4 of 1.87 ng/dL, free T3 of 2.15 pg/ml (reference: 2.18- 3.98 pg/ml), consistent with sick euthyroid syndrome. TPO and TSI were negative. Subsequently, the patient's fever resolved, and the neck swelling improved. He continued IV vancomycin for a month. TFTs six weeks later showed an elevated TSH of 13.10 mcIU/ml and normal free T4 of 1. 03 ng/dl. CONCLUSION: MRSA suppurative thyroiditis is rare, and its diagnosis may be delayed due to its indolent course, especially in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, a high index of clinical suspicion is needed for this endocrine emergency in a patient presenting with fever and neck swelling. While an early FNA of the thyroid is likely to aid in diagnosing thyroid infection, TFTs may be variable and not helpful. Presentation: No date and time listed