THYROID ABSCESS IN A PATIENT WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBASTIC LEUKEMIA DURING CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED NEUTROPENIA

Abstract

Febrile neutropenia is a commonly encountered complication during the treatment of hematological malignancies. Respiratory system, skin, gastrointestinal system and genitourinary system infections are the common causes of febrile neutropenia. The infection of thyroid gland is rarely seen even in neutropenic patients. Here, we describe a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was treated with intensive chemotherapy and developed suppurative thyroiditis during neutropenic period. It is proposed that prior neutropenia and preceding cellulitis around the thyroid gland, which might be subsequent to oral mucosal damage induced by anticancer drugs, may play a role in the development of gland infection. Thyroid gland infection should be considered a potential complication of aggressive chemotherapy for leukemia.