A Case of Tuberculosis of Thyroid Gland.
- Author:
Keun CHUNG
1
;
Hyung Baek KIM
;
Hee Dong KIM
;
Jin Hak CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Tuberculosis;
Thyroid gland
- MeSH:
Abscess;
Adult;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Epithelial Cells;
Female;
Humans;
Lymphocytes;
Subcutaneous Fat;
Thyroid Gland*;
Thyroid Nodule;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed;
Tuberculosis*
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
1999;42(9):1198-1202
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is extremely rare, with only a few reported cases in the recent literature. The diagnosis is based entirely upon the histological picture of the tubercle, which consists of aggregates of mononuclear epithelial cells, giants cells, and a border of lymphocytes. Tuberculosis may involve the thyroid gland in two main forms. One common form spreads to the thyroid as part of generalized dissemination, and the other one is focal or caseous tuberculosis of the thyroid, presenting as a nodule, thyroiditis, an abscess, or a carcinoma-like mass. The differential diagnosis from malignancy and other non tuberculous granulomatous lesion is impossible upon the clinical ground. Surgical intervention is essential in order to establish the definitive diagnosis and to exclude the possibility of tumors. We experienced a case of the tuberculosis of the thyroid gland presenting with palpable thyroid nodule in a 44 year-old female patient. She was clinically and biochemically euthyroid and her CT scans demonstrated multiple low density in both thyroid gland with strands in the subcutaneous fat layer. The mass was removed surgically and confirmed to be tuberculosis.
