Hi I am a 33 year old male, have previously been diagnosed with thyroid cancer resulting in a total thyroidectomy. I currently take 200mcg thyroxine per day. Approximately 10 days ago an abcess developed on my neck which had a very hard lining. I took amoxicillin for 4 days which did not seem to have any effect. I then went to the hospital and they incised the abscess, let it drain naturally and used forceps to break down the hard walls. I have been changing the dressing daily and the abscess has not reduced in size and the surrounding area is still hard. I am due to go back to the hospital tomorrow for a follow up appointment and was wondering what the next step may be. I was also prescribed a stronger antibiotic, co-amoxiclav which I have now been taking for 3 days.
The abscess may or may not be related to the thyroid cancer. Possibilities are a simple myogenic abscess (for which the treatment you are taking is adequate), tuberculosis or thyroid cancer in a node. I would suggest continuing the same treatment for at least 10 days and if the abscess is not resolving, then to take a biopsy from the walls of the abscess cavity. That will settle the issue