“TUBERCULOUS THYROIDITIS: A RARE CASE REPORT”

Abstract

Tuberculosis of thyroid gland is a rare entity even in countries with high prevalence of tuberculosis. The diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, especially in the rare sites like thyroid, pancreas, striated and cardiac muscles is difcult. Thyroid tuberculosis, if at all present, is more commonly associated with either miliary or disseminated tuberculosis or with contagious involvement from adjacent viscera and vertebral body. Hence, for an accurate diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis, pathological examination with demonstration of acid-fast bacilli is important along with a proper clinico-radiological evaluation. Herein we report a case of 30-year-old male with swelling on the right side of neck who presented with a “solitary thyroid nodule” on ultrasound and “colloid” in ne needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with scattered epithelioid like cells along with benign follicular epithelial cells. However, no denitive diagnosis could be given on cytology due to pauci-cellularity. Tuberculous thyroiditis was diagnosed on histopathology since the patient underwent right hemithyroidectomy for right side solitary nodule. The patient was started on Anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) and had no complications in 6 months follow up period. Although rare, thyroid tuberculosis should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, even in patients with no history and symptoms of TB disease elsewhere specially in TB endemic areas.