title: Piriform sinus fistula as a route of infection in acute suppurative thyroiditis.
abstract: A case of acute suppurative thyroiditis due to a left piriform sinus fistula was reported. A five-year old boy had a acutely painful tumor in the anterior part of the neck. It was a diffuse, firm, warm erythematous tumor, and laboratory, radiologic findings showed the acute inflammation of the left lobe of thyroid. a barium swallow revealed a very thin fistula originating from the apex of the left piriform sinus extending antero-inferiorly. This fistula was considered to be a route of infection in acute suppurative thyroiditis, allowing bacterial infection to begin in the perithyroidal space and spread to the thyroid gland. The complete fistulectomy was required for a permanent cure, but an administration of antibiotics was very effective in this case.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000209:etiology*; D013969:Thyroiditis, Suppurative / Q000209:etiology*