Incidental finding of a primary thyroid tuberculosis

Abstract

Thyroid tuberculosis (TT) is a very rare condition, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. However, the prevalence of tuberculosis has increased worldwide and thyroid involvement can be a primary manifestation of the disease. We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with this diagnosis and perform a review of the related literature. After searching for similar case reports in Western Europe since 2010 we identified six cases in four countries. TT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a thyroid nodule. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and polymerase chain reaction are useful tools as preoperative diagnosis. Typical caseous necrotic granulomas are the hallmark in biopsy.

Figure 1:

Left thyroid nodule, isoechoic, solid-cystic aspect, regular margins, well-defined borders, hypoechogenic halo present and peripheral vascularity (arrow).

Figure 2:

Caseous necrotic granuloma (pink area, wide arrow) surrounded by a lymphocytic infiltrate and MGCs.