ACUTE SUPPURATIVE THYROIDITIS - A 10-YEAR REVIEW IN A TAIWANESE HOSPITAL

12 patients with acute suppurative thyroiditis were treated over a 10-year period. Their ages ranged from 2-81 years. Eight of them had a pre-existing thyroid mass. A piriform sinus fistula was demonstrated in one of the 2 patients with a history of recurrent infections. Cultures of the pus taken from the infected glands grew Gram-positive streptococci in 4 patients, Gram-negative bacteria in 4, and anaerobic bacteria in 1; the other 3 were sterile. Both patients who grew Klebsiella pneumonia were diabetic. Most of the patients received drainage in addition to systemic antibiotics. Only 2 patients had recurrence during the follow-up period. We present a review of our experience with this uncommon infection.