Nocardia thyroiditis: Unusual location of infection

Nocardia asteroides complex is an important opportunistic agent in immunoco mpromised hosts. Usually, primary pulmonary infection occurs and is followe d by dissemination of the pathogen to the central nervous system and soft t issues. As described in the literature, almost every organ can be infected, but to our knowledge, Nocardia has been described as a pathogen responsibl e for thyroid abscess in only one report, which was published in 1993. The present report is the second case report of Nocardia thyroiditis. The patie nt was under immunosuppressor treatment following a combined liver-kidney t ransplant and presented with a preexisting nodular goiter which was probabl y a predisposing factor to the start and development of the thyroid infecti on.