Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Tuberculous Lymphadenopathy: An Unfortunate Dual Pathology

Papillary thyroid carcinoma usually spreads through lymphatic route, presents as regional lymphadenopathy similar to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis of the cervical regions. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman with synchronous coexistence of tuberculosis and metastatic carcinoma in dissected lymph nodes. Total thyroidectomy is the standard care of treatment with additional neck dissection in clinically positive neck nodes. In the endemic areas and previous history of tuberculosis contact, the possibility of synchronous co-occurrence of these two pathologies should be considered thus anti-tuberculous treatment can be initiated concurrently.