Abstract
Objective: Suppurative acute thyroiditis is caused by pyriform sinus
fistula (PSF), and PSF frequently elicits deep neck abscess. However,
complete fistulectomy is the ideal management of PSF, and studies on
surgical findings of PSF are exceedingly rare. This study aimed to
reveal the origins of PSF, each route, and clinical presentation.
Methods: This is a multicenter study. We have conducted 19 complete
fistulectomies of PSF in Japan, analyzed routes of the fistulas,
estimated the origins, and investigated their histological and clinical
findings. Results: No recurrence was observed in all cases. Five of 12
cases showed thymic and/or parathyroid tissues around the fistulas,
passing inside the inferior horn of thyroid cartilage, were regarded as
having 3rd pouch origin, and tended to have low frequency of severe deep
neck abscess. The remaining seven cases originated from the 4th pouch
running outside of the horn and showed frequent severe infection.
Conclusion: PSF have two different routes depending on their generation
and may present different clinical manifestations.