THYROID TUBERCULOSIS MIMICKING MALIGNANCY: A DIAGNOSTIC TRAP IN THE PRESENCE OF CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY - A CASE REPORT

Primary thyroid tuberculosis (TT) is an uncommon disease, and its incidence is low even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. The high resistance of the thyroid gland to infectious processes may explain this rarity. The coexistence of thyroid tuberculosis and cervical lymphadenopathy can mislead clinicians toward a diagnosis of malignancy. We present the case of a 37-year-old patient with a right lateral cervical adenopathy that has been evolving for almost 4 months without any clinical signs of tuberculosis or thyroid dysfunction. A right hemithyroidectomy with lymph node dissection was performed and the diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. A 6-9 months course of antituberculous treatment was administered with a good outcome.