Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis (AST) With Thyroid Abscess: A Rare and Potentially Fatal Neck Infection.

Thyroid abscess, although rare, is a condition that usually occurs as a sequela of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) which is an infection of the thyroid gland. The infrequent occurrence of thyroid abscess is due to the unique anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gland which renders it resistant to infections. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can have adverse outcomes and serious complications such as septicaemia, descending necrotising mediastinitis, extension into deep spaces of the neck, and tracheal or oesophageal perforation. The mainstay of management is a combination of systemic antibiotics along with incision and drainage, and rarely surgery. We report the case of a 37-year-old male with acute suppurative thyroiditis with a thyroid abscess. He underwent incision and drainage of the abscess and was subsequently treated with systemic antibiotics. This condition warrants a prompt and timely diagnosis with appropriate management as it often leads to fatal complications if not diagnosed early.

A Unique Presentation of Ectopic Thyroid Tissue: Case Report and Management Principles.

Ectopic thyroid is a rare clinical presentation to encounter in day-to-day clinical practice. It occurs due to developmental defects in the early stages of the thyroid gland embryogenesis during its descent from the floor of the primitive foregut to its final pre-tracheal position. It is usually present along the extent of the thyroglossal duct as well as in distant locations such as sub-diaphragmatic or mediastinal spaces. The diverse clinical presentation of this rare entity often causes a diagnostic dilemma. A thyroid scintigraphy scan is pivotal in the diagnosis of ectopy, but ultrasonography is done more frequently. Surgical management is preferred for symptomatic cases, followed by radioactive iodine ablation and levothyroxine supportive therapy for refractory cases. We present a case of a 62-year-old female patient who presented with pain and swelling of the right submandibular region. On ultrasonography, a 5*4 cm firm mobile swelling of the right submandibular region was found, suggestive of right submandibular sialadenitis. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was subsequently done, and it showed features of basaloid neoplasm like pleomorphic adenoma, and as the thyroid tissue was in an ectopic location, it must have been misdiagnosed. The patient was then taken up for right submandibular sialoadenectomy, and the histopathological examination of the operative specimen showed nodular colloidal goiter and mild chronic sialadenitis. Ectopic thyroid can present at various anatomical locations and thereby has varied clinical presentations which makes it a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians. The usual radiological investigations done include USG and CT scan, whereas thyroid scintigraphy is more precise in reaching the diagnosis of ectopic thyroid. The confirmatory diagnostic method is the histopathological examination of the excised specimen. Most cases of ectopic thyroid are asymptomatic and require regular follow-up. Symptomatic cases are managed by surgical excision followed by periodic monitoring and adequate thyroxine replacement.

Primary Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) Presenting as Perforation Peritonitis: A Case Report and Management Principles.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has a characteristic feature that distinguishes it from the other types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) - the presence of a marker on its surface called CD30. It can be either cutaneous, systemic, or around breast implants. The systemic type of ALCL can be further classified based on the presence or absence of an abnormal protein, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), as ALK-positive or ALK-negative ALCL, respectively. We are presenting a case of a 35-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with an acute episode of abdominal pain. He underwent emergency laparotomy with ileal resection and anastomosis, as he was diagnosed with perforation peritonitis. Histological and immuno-histochemical reports of the specimen showed a lymphoproliferative lesion, and it helped reach the diagnosis of ALK-negative ALCL. ALK-negative ALCL can be diagnosed by using multidisciplinary investigation techniques, including radiological imaging, histopathological examination along with immunohistochemical staining. Prompt diagnosis helps in distinguishing ALK-negative ALCL from other lymphomas as well as solids tumors of the small bowel.

Serum Chromium Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients and Its Association with Glycaemic Control.

INTRODUCTION: Chromium is an essential micronutrient which is required for the normal functioning of insulin and regulation of blood sugar levels. It acts as a vital antioxidant for maintaining insulin homeostasis. In diabetes mellitus, the free radical production is increased and levels of antioxidants like chromium, vanadium, selenium and manganese are reduced. There have been previous studies to suggest that low serum levels of chromium are associated with poorer glycaemic control. AIM: To study the level of serum chromium in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with glycaemic control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum chromium concentration was determined by using inductively coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectophotometry in 42 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without any pre-existing complications. They were divided into 2 groups - well controlled (HbA1c ≤7.0%) and uncontrolled groups (HbA1c >7.0%). RESULTS: Mean serum chromium concentration measured in uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients was significantly lower (0.065 ± 0.03 mcg/L vs 0.103 ± 0.04 mcg/L, p< 0.05). There was a statistically significant inverse linear correlation of the HbA1c values and the serum chromium concentration (r= -0.6514, p < 0.0001). There was also a decrease in chromium levels across both the groups with advancing age and the decrease being significant beyond 40 years of age (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study describes the relationship between serum chromium levels and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Significant reduction in chromium levels are probable indicators of metabolic response to oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further large scale studies relating serum chromium and type 2 diabetes mellitus may help to understand more about the exact relationship.