Thyroid Abscess Secondary to Perforated Carcinoma of the Oesophagus: A Rare Presentation

Thyroid abscess is a rare condition of the thyroid gland. The common causative organisms responsible for thyroid abscess are Staphylococci and Streptococci species. Rarely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella Brandenburg and Eikinella corrodens also have been isolated in individual cases as the causative organism. Early biopsy and cultures are needed. Thyroid abscess is successfully treated with immediate surgical intervention and appropriate antimicrobial agents. We describe a case of thyroid abscess secondary to oesophageal perforation following carcinoma or the oesophagus. Klebsiella was the organism isolated. The patient was treated with open surgical drainage and appropriate antimicrobial agents along with a feeding jejunostomy.