Primary tuberculosis of thyroid gland: a rare case report

Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is a rare entity, and primary tuberculosis of thyroid is even uncommon. At one time, it was believed that thyroid gland is relatively immune to tuberculosis. There are about 200 cases of thyroid tuberculosis that had been reported in world literature. These include 156 cases reviewed by Goldfarb et al (Am J Med 1965;38:825) and 1 each by Crompton et al (Tubercle 1969;50:61-64), Johnson et al (Br J Surg 1973;60:668-669), Emry (J Laryngol Otol 1980;94:553-558), and Kukreja and Sharma ML (Ind J Surg 1982;44:190-192), and a histologic diagnosis by Das et al (Acta Cytol 1992;36:517-522) and Mondal and Patra (J Laryngol Otol 1995;109:36-38). Almost all cases had primary foci elsewhere in the body. Isolated tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is extremely rare, with few reported cases; when it does occur, it may prove difficult to diagnose (J Laryngol Otol 1980;94:553-558). Among the different manifestations of tuberculous thyroiditis, abscess of the thyroid appears to be the rarest and the most dangerous (Tubercle 1969;50:61-64). Sachs et al (Am J Med 1988;85:573-575) reported 4 cases of tuberculous thyroiditis that were diagnosed preoperatively, the rest of the cases were diagnosed either from surgical specimen or from autopsy. A case of primary tuberculosis of thyroid gland presenting as abscess and diagnosed preoperatively is reported here.