SARCOIDOSIS OF THE THYROID-GLAND MANIFESTED INITIALLY AS THYROID-TUMOR

A rare case of a patient with sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland who was preoperatively diagnosed as having thyroid carcinoma and who had no o ther clinical features of sarcoidosis, is reported. Thyroidectomy spec imen revealed numerous noncaseating, epithelioid granulomas in the thy roid tissue. Mycobacteria, fungi and foreign body material were not id entified. Similar granulomas were also found in the lymph nodes and mu scular tissue adjacent to the thyroid gland and parathyroid gland Afte r the diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the thyroid, systemic examination fa iled to reveal any involvement in other sites, including lung, eye and skin. This case demonstrated that sarcoidosis can manifest initially as a thyroid tumor with no other evidence of disease.