Thyroid tuberculosis: Diagnosis and treatment

Objective: It was the aim of this study to report clinical characteristics and treatment of thyroid tuberculosis (TT). Methods: During 16 years, 2,426 patients have been operated on the thyroid in the surgical department 'A' in Ibn Sina Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. Anatomopathological results of the removed thyroid were analyzed for evidence of tuberculosis. Results: Eight cases of TT were diagnosed. Five patients had a goiter and 3 patients had an isolated nodule of the thyroid. In one case, fine-needle aspiration cytology gave the diagnosis of TT. This patient had a complete drainage of the abscess. In all other patients, the diagnosis was given after surgery. All patients received additional antituberculous drugs for 6 months, and follow-up was satisfactory. Conclusion: TT does not have any consistent symptoms. Fine-needle aspiration is the best method for diagnosis and can result in the avoidance of surgery. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG.