American Journal of Neuroradiology 2009;30:1944.
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American Journal of Neuroradiology
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A1642
HEAD & NECK
Unilateral Hypopharyngitis, Cellulitis, and a Multinodular Goiter: A Triad of Findings Suggestive of Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis
From the Departments of Radiology (M.D., P.M.S.) and Emergency Medicine (J.B.), Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY; and Department of Radiology (A.d.G.B.), Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal.
Please address correspondence to Peter M. Som, MD, FACR, Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Box 1234, One Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029-6574; e-mail: Peter.Som{at}MSSM.Edu
SUMMARY: Acute suppurative thyroiditis is an uncommon disorder, which has been associated with pre-existing thyroid disease, especially a multinodular goiter. We describe a case of a woman who presented clinically with an acute inflammatory condition of the neck. On CT examination, she had a triad of a multinodular goiter, a unilateral hypopharyngitis, and a surrounding cellulitis. We suggest that the constellation of these imaging findings should alert the radiologist to the diagnosis of acute thyroiditis.