Subacute thyroiditis complicated by extra-thyroidal abscess: A very rare presentation of tuberculous thyroiditis

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is a very rare condition. We report a case of tuberculous thyroiditis in a young woman who presented with a right-side solitary thyroid nodule associated with features of subacute inflammation of a short duration. Diagnosis was confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with positive Ziehl Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was treated medically with satisfactory resolution of the infection and regression of the nodule. Conclusion: FNAC provides a confident non-operative diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis, obviating the need for unnecessary surgical removal of a thyroid nodule readily treated medically.