title: Acute suppurative thyroiditis and the branchial apparatus.
abstract: Acute suppurative thyroiditis and thyroid abscess are rare. The finding of a sinus tract arising from the pyriform sinus in some cases highlights the possibility of a branchial apparatus origin. We present three case histories that include a left-sided lesion and radiologic or surgical-anatomic evidence of an internal sinus tract. Our discussion focuses on two considerations: first, the exact branchial pouch from which this lesion arises, and second, a proposed protocol for the work-up and management of patients with the onset or recurrence of acute suppurative thyroiditis or thyroid abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, SUNY-Health Science Center, Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Har-el
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prager
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Krespi
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001934:Branchial Region; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases; D013959:Thyroid Diseases; D013969:Thyroiditis, Suppurative