Clinical Presentation and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of the Thyroid in Disseminated Tuberculosis

Diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis is often difficult. We present a patient with disseminated tuberculosis involving the thyroid gland whose clinical presentation mimicked that of anaplastic thyroid cancer. An 80- year-old man presented with weight loss and an erythematous neck mass . Aspiration cytology of the thyroid nodule revealed polymorphonuclear cells , epithelioid cells, and necrotic tissue. Anaplastic thyroid cancer with pulmonary metastasis was suspected. Sputum culture, however, yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis and disseminated tuberculosis was diagnosed. The patient was treated successfully with antituberculosis drugs. The erythematous neck mass became necrotic and finally detached. The clinical presentation and thyroid aspiration cytology in disseminated tuberculosis can mimic anaplastic thyroid cancer. Tuberculosis must be excluded before the diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer is made