ABSTRACT
Thyroid tuberculosis is rare, and primary tuberculosis is extremely rare. In most cases, thyroid tuberculosis presents as a thyroid nodule, thyroiditis, thyroid abscess, or thyroid cancer, and is often diagnosed after thyroidectomy. We experienced a case of thyroid tuberculosis that presented as a palpable thyroid nodule in a 32-year-old female patient. The patient had been previously diagnosed with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis and had been treated successfully 6 years ago. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland showed a small number of neutrophils and macrophages in a necrotic background, and many acid-fast bacilli were found with AFB staining. The patient began anti-tuberculosis therapy as an outpatient and is currently being followed regularly. Here, we report a case of thyroid tuberculosis diagnosed after the apparent cure of cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Additionally, a review of the literature is included.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Abscess , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Lymph Nodes , Macrophages , Neutrophils , Outpatients , Recurrence , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Thyroidectomy , Thyroiditis , Tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, Lymph NodeABSTRACT
Thyroid tuberculosis is rare, and primary tuberculosis is extremely rare. In most cases, thyroid tuberculosis presents as a thyroid nodule, thyroiditis, thyroid abscess, or thyroid cancer, and is often diagnosed after thyroidectomy. We experienced a case of thyroid tuberculosis that presented as a palpable thyroid nodule in a 32-year-old female patient. The patient had been previously diagnosed with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis and had been treated successfully 6 years ago. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland showed a small number of neutrophils and macrophages in a necrotic background, and many acid-fast bacilli were found with AFB staining. The patient began anti-tuberculosis therapy as an outpatient and is currently being followed regularly. Here, we report a case of thyroid tuberculosis diagnosed after the apparent cure of cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Additionally, a review of the literature is included.