A Rare Presentation of Thyroid Mass as Tubercular Abscess: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) typically affects the lungs, with extrapulmonary manifestations being less common.
• Isolated thyroid gland tuberculosis is an exceedingly rare form of extrapulmonary TB.
• Presentation of thyroid TB as an acute abscess with discharging sinuses is exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of acute thyroid abscess secondary to tuberculosis.
• To emphasize the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of neck abscesses, particularly in endemic areas.
• To illustrate the clinical presentation and diagnostic findings of this rare condition.

Main Methods:

• Clinical presentation of a 65-year-old female with progressive neck swelling.
• Imaging and physical examination revealing an abscess with multiple discharging sinuses.
• Histopathological examination of abscess tissue confirming tuberculous etiology.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a neck swelling that rapidly evolved into a complex abscess.
• Multiple discharging sinuses were evident, indicating advanced disease.
• Histopathology definitively diagnosed the abscess as tubercular in origin.

Conclusions:

• This case underscores the potential for tuberculosis to manifest atypically in the thyroid gland.
• Acute abscess formation with sinuses, though rare, should prompt consideration of thyroid TB.
• Prompt diagnosis and appropriate anti-tuberculosis treatment are crucial for managing such rare presentations.