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Published on: November 10, 2014
Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland: a case report
V Zivaljevic1, I Paunovic, A Diklic
1Centre for Endocrine Surgery, Institute of Endocrinology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. abvzival@Eunet.Yu
Acta Chirurgica Belgica
|April 5, 2007
Summary
Thyroid tuberculosis is rare, but this case highlights its mimicry of thyroid cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment led to a successful outcome with no recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- Oncology
Background:
- Thyroid tuberculosis is an exceptionally rare endocrine disorder, even with rising rates of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
- Distinguishing thyroid tuberculosis from thyroid malignancy presents diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 56-year-old female presented with a hard, multinodular goiter and neck lymphadenopathy, clinically resembling thyroid cancer.
- Surgical intervention revealed histological evidence of tuberculosis in the thyroid and paratracheal lymph nodes.
Findings:
- The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection.
- A 6-month course of combination antitubercular drugs was administered post-surgery.
- No evidence of disease recurrence was observed during a three-year follow-up period.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare infections in the differential diagnosis of thyroid masses.
- Accurate diagnosis through histology is crucial for appropriate management.
- Effective antitubercular therapy can lead to favorable outcomes in thyroid tuberculosis.
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