Korean J Med.  2009 Dec;77(6):771-774.

Recurrence of thyroid tuberculosis after complete treatment of lymph node tuberculosis

• Yoo HY
• Chung CH
• Roh MO
• Park HK
• Byon DW
• Suh KI
• Yoo MH

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.

Keyword

Thyroid gland; Tuberculosis

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Adult
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Macrophages
Neutrophils
Outpatients
Recurrence
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroid Nodule
Thyroidectomy
Thyroiditis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Lymph Node