ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis, treatment, classification, and epidemiology of thyroid tuberculosis. MethodsA retrospective study of 5 cases of thyroid tuberculosis and a review of the literatures were analyzed, which related to the clinical characteristics, the gist of the diagnosis and treatment, the causes of misdiagnosis and the methods of operation. ResultsAll of the cases were misdiagnosed before operation. Two cases were diagnosed by the frozen sections during the operations and three cases were diagnosed by postoperative pathology. Subtotal resection or lobectomy and local excision (3 cases) were performed respectively. Debidement and anti-tuberculosis medicine were given locally in 2 unresectable cases. All patients underwent standard chemotherapy for 6－8 months after operations and recovered finally. Four cases were caseous necrosis, 1 case was hyperplasia, all of which were chronic infections thyroid tuberculosis, and no acute thyroid tuberculosis be found. No recurrence was found in the 2－15 years of follow-up. ConclusionsUsually, it is difficult to establish a definite preoperative diagnosis for thyroid tuberculosis. Treatment, such as resection, debridement with local medication or systemic chemotherapy, shall be taken individually according to pathology types, focal features, and comorbidities. For hyperplasia cases, surgical resection shall be the best choice, while, for caseous necrosis cases, sometime difficult to remove, debridement with local medication may be suitable.