Aspergillus Infection of the Thyroid in a Patient Who Had Undergone Liver Transplant: A Case Report

Aspergillus species are opportunistic fungi that can cause severe, potentially life - threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Invasive aspergillosis most commonly affects the lungs (70 % -90 % ) but may also involve other organs, including the central nervous system (10 % -25 % ), heart (5 % -10 % ), kidneys (5 % -10 % ), liver and spleen (5 % -8 % ), and gastrointestinal tract (2 % -5 % ). The incidence of aspergillosis is markedly increased among solid-organ transplant recipients due to prolonged immunosuppression. Thyroid involvement is extremely rare ( <1 % ) and is most often reported in autopsy studies. Infection of the thyroid gland may occur through hematogenous dissemination, direct extension from adjacent structures, or iatrogenic routes. Herein, we describe a liver transplant recipient who developed thyroid aspergillosis, emphasizing the importance of considering fungal infections in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions in immunosuppressed patients.