Abstract: Objective To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid tuberculosis.Methods Retrospectively analyze 48 cases with thyroid tuberculosis confirmed by pathology received surgical operation. Results Before the surgical operation, the mojority of cases were misdiagnosed as thyroid adenoma, the minority were misinterpreted as thyroid carcinoma or thyroiditis, and few cases were suspected as thyroid tuberculosis. Performed local excision in 32 cases, unilateral thyroid lobectomy in 6 cases, bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in 4 cases, isthmectomy in 3 cases and incision & drainage in 3 cases. In addition, also performed neck dissection in 3 cases. All the patients were treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs for 9 to 12 months and were recovered. All the patients were followed up for 1 to 22 years and didn’t recur. Conclusion Cytological examination by fine-needle aspirate biopsy was helpful to diagnosis. The first choice was treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs. To the diffuse enlargement of the thyroid could perform incision & drainage, and after the operation could irrigate the lesion with anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Thyroid gland, Diagnosis, Treatment