Actinomycotic thyroiditis in a child

Abstract

The authors present a unique case of actinomycosis occurring in a 10-year-old girl who presented with a painless, noninflammatory left neck mass of 3 weeks duration. Physical examination findings showed a firm, nontender mass within the left thyroid lobe, and a presumptive diagnosis of thyroid neoplasm was made. Inflammatory changes subsequently occurred and surgical drainage was performed revealing sulphur granules. Histological examination confirmed actinomycosis of the thyroid gland.