A Pyriform Sinus Fistula Diagnosed by Videofluoroscopy.

A 10-year-old girl presented to the otorhinolaryngology clinic with a 3-day history of painful swelling of the left anterior neck and a fever. She had had left-sided acute suppurative thyroiditis two years earlier. A physical examination revealed mild tenderness of the left anterior neck. Thyroid function tests were normal. Ultrasonography revealed left thyroid lobe swelling and a small abscess in the upper left thyroid lobe. Surgical drainage was performed by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration, and oral amoxicillin was prescribed. The pain and swelling resolved within 12 days. One month after the onset, videofluoroscopy showed a fistula between the thyroid and the left side of the pharynx (Picture, arrow). She underwent surgical removal of the fistula, and the thyroiditis did not recur. Acute suppurative thyroiditis caused by a pyriform sinus fistula was first reported in Japan (1). Videofluoroscopy is useful for the timely diagnosis of piriformis sinus fistulae (2).

Picture.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).