Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland

Abstract

We are reporting a case of thyroid gland tuberculosis presenting as a painless hard nodular swelling of the thyroid with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis in a 53- year- old adult diabetic male. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed epitheloid cell granuloma without any acid fast bacillus. He made an uneventful recovery with anti tuberculous drugs. Though rare, tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of nodular or diffuse enlargement of thyroid gland.