Thyroid abscess associated with transient hyperthyroidism in an adolescent girl: a rare case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES

To report an unusual case of thyroid abscess associated with thyroid dysfunction in an adolescent girl who has a normal anatomic structure of the thyroid gland.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 15-year-old adolescent girl presented with a history of fever, sore throat, and neck swelling for 10 days duration. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography neck showed findings suggestive of an abscess involving the left lobe of the thyroid gland. She had low TSH and elevated T3 and T4 levels. Here, we report a case of thyroid abscess associated with transient hyperthyroidism in an immunocompetent girl who was successfully managed with parental antibiotics without incision and drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid abscess can present with hyperthyroidism in children. So it is important to monitor all children who have thyroid abscesses for the development of permanent hypothyroidism later on. It's important to diagnose this condition as soon as possible and begin antibiotic therapy appropriately.