Acute suppurative thyroiditis as a rare complication of aggressive chemotherapy in children with acute myelogeneous leukemia

Chihaya Imai*, Toshio Kakihara, Akihiro Watanabe, Yukie Ikarashi, Hiromitsu Hotta, Atsushi Tanaka, Makoto Uchiyama

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) is quite rare, even in immunocompromised patients. The authors describe 2 cases of AST during aggressive chemotherapy for acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML). They were treated with aggressive combination chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. After several courses of chemotherapy, they developed fever and pain in the region of the thyroid gland. Laboratory tests showed hyperthroidism and elevated levels of thyroglobulin and C-reactive protein. Ultrasonography revealed hypoechoic areas in the thyroid gland. A diagnosis of AST was made. Bacterial infections were suspected because they were successfully treated with antibiotics. After a month, the patients' thyroid function and thyroglobulin levels returned to normal without a period of transient hypothyroidism. A pyriform sinus fistula was not demonstrated. The results suggest that neutropenia and preceding cellulitis around the thyroid gland, which might be subsequent to oral mucosal damage induced by anticancer drugs, may play a role in the development of AST. AST should be considered a potential complication of aggressive chemotherapy for leukemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-253
Number of pages7
JournalPediatric Hematology and Oncology
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Acute suppurative thyroiditis
  • Chemotherapy
  • Leukemia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Hematology
  • Oncology

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