Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland manifested initially as thyroid tumor

A rare case of a patients with sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland, who was preoperatively diagnosed as having thyroid carcinoma and who had no other clinical features of sarcoidosis, is reported. Thyroidectomy specimen revealed numerous noncaseating, epithelioid granulomas in the thyroid tissue. Mycobacteria, fungi and foreign body material were not identified. Similar granulomas were also found in the lymph nodes and muscular tissue adjacent to the thyroid gland and parathyroid gland After the diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the thyroid, systemic examination failed to reveal any involvement in other sites, including lung, eye and skin. This case demonstrated that sarcoidosis can manifest initially as a thyroid tumor with no other evidence of disease.