Pediatric Thyroid Abscess: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

In the pediatric age group, one of the rare yet hypothetically fatal clinical entity is thyroid abscess accounting for mortality of 3.7%–9% in acute suppurative thyroiditis. The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gland provide it with resistance to pathogens, but thyroid abscess presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here, we represent a case of a child in middle childhood with a large swelling on the right side of the neck that moved with deglutition and caused tracheal deviation without airway obstruction. Thyroid abscess was diagnosed on ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck. With this report, we want to focus on rarity of pediatric thyroid abscess and the importance of early imaging and surgical intervention when conservative management fails. It emphasizes the need for timely surgical intervention in large or refractory abscesses to prevent complications. Again, the case also highlights the role of ultrasound for diagnosis and intraoperative measures in minimizing surgical risks while ensuring complete resolution.