Tuberculosis of the thyroid bed presenting as recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

A 69-year-old lady with previous medullary thyroid carcinoma treated by total thyroidectomy alone developed a swelling in the neck. This was thought to be a recurrence of her carcinoma but was found on investigation to be a tuberculous abscess of the thyroid bed. She was treated successfully by surgical drainage and antituberculous chemotherapy.