Case report. Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis mimicking metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma.

We report two unusual cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis mimicking metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Pre-operative ultrasonography of the cervical nodes suggested a metastasis with cystic necrosis and calcification in PTC patients, but permanent pathology revealed tuberculosis lymphadenitis after neck dissection. In cases suspicious for metastatic cervical nodes in patients with PTC, fine-needle aspiration cytology may be indicated for the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis lymphadenitis, especially in those who have experienced tuberculosis in the past.