title: Primary tuberculosis of the thyroid gland: report of three cases.
abstract: We report on three cases with rapidly increasing thyroid masses who were referred with the provisional diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. In the two cases, the diagnosis of tuberculosis was established after thyroidectomy, but in the third case diagnosis was made pre-operatively with acid fast bacilli (AFB) staining and culture from fine needle aspiration (FNA) material. Although rare, tuberculosis of the thyroid gland should be included in the differential diagnosis of thyroid masses. FNA, AFB staining and culture of the aspirate are important diagnostic tools in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Endocrine Oncology, Theagenion Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. kpazaitou@in.gr
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pazaitou
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrisoulidou
authors.forename: Eudoxia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ginikopoulou
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Chariclia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Destouni
authors.forename: Iraklis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vainas
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014383:Tuberculosis, Endocrine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents