Papillary and medullary thyroid carcinomas coexisting in the same lobe, first suspected based on fine-needle aspiration cytology: a case report

Because different types of thyroid malignancies have distinct embryological origins, coexisting tumors are rarely observed. We describe a coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) first suspected by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). A 57-year-old female...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pathology and translational medicine 2022, 56(5), , pp.301-308
Main Authors: Koh, Hyun Hee, Oh, Young Lyun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood tests
Case reports
Case Study
Cellular biology
fine-needle aspiration cytology
Medical prognosis
medullary thyroid carcinoma
Mutation
papillary thyroid carcinoma
Patients
Thyroid cancer
Thyroidectomy
Ultrasonic imaging
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Summary:Because different types of thyroid malignancies have distinct embryological origins, coexisting tumors are rarely observed. We describe a coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) first suspected by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). A 57-year-old female presented with an irregular mass in the right thyroid lobe. The cytopathologic findings of fine-needle aspiration showed two components: a papillary-like arrangement consisting of cells with pale enlarged nuclei indicative of PTC and loose clusters comprised of oval cells with granular chromatin indicative of MTC. The diagnosis of a coexisting PTC and MTC was initially confirmed by calcitonin immunocytochemistry and later after total thyroidectomy. Although some surgical case reports of PTC and MTC coexisting in either the same or different lobes have been documented, a case suspected by FNAC before the surgery has rarely been reported. Because appropriate treatment and prognosis of PTC and MTC are different, cytopathologists should be aware of this rare entity.
ISSN:2383-7837
2383-7845
DOI:10.4132/jptm.2022.08.03