Korean J Med.  2014 Jan;86(1):79-83. 10.3904/kjm.2014.86.1.79.

A Case of Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis Complicated by Hypocalcemia

• Yoo SJ
• Shim MS
• Kim WJ
• Kim EJ
• Oh KH
• Lee JH
• Kwon JS

• KMID: 1867322
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.86.1.79

Abstract

We report a case of acute suppurative thyroiditis complicated by idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. The patient was a 49-year-old female who visited our clinic with a painful goiter on the left lobe of the thyroid gland. She was hypocalcemic, which was accompanied unusually by acute suppurative thyroiditis. She also suffered from tetany of both hands and legs. She had undergone a right subtotal thyroidectomy at another hospital 23 years previously due to a benign thyroid nodule. Intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were increased, but other laboratory findings were normal. No special treatment was administered for the acute suppurative thyroiditis, except antibiotics, to observe its natural course. Her PTH levels decreased and serum calcium returned to normal. The complication of acute suppurative thyroiditis suggested the possible involvement of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism.

Keyword

Acute suppurative thyroiditis; Hypocalcemia; Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Calcium
Female
Goiter
Hand
Humans
Hypocalcemia*
Hypoparathyroidism
Leg
Middle Aged
Parathyroid Hormone
Tetany
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Nodule
Thyroidectomy
Thyroiditis, Suppurative*
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Calcium
Parathyroid Hormone