Thyroid Ultrasound: More Sensitive than Radioactive Iodine Imaging in Detecting Recurrence of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Two Pediatric Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Brittany K. Wise-Oringer ◽  
Marina Goldis ◽  
Molly O. Regelmann ◽  
Michelle Klein ◽  
Josef Machac ◽  
...  

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is an uncommon pediatric disease with an excellent prognosis. In follow-up surveillance, neck ultrasound (US), basal and thyroid-stimulating hormone-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, and diagnostic whole-body radioactive iodine scans (DxWBS) have been traditionally used in both adults and children for the detection of recurrence or metastases of PTC. Methods: Two pediatric patients with metastatic PTC were followed after standard ablative treatment with routine neck US and serum Tg levels, as well as periodic DxWBS. Results: Neck US identified recurrent and metastatic PTC which DxWBS failed to detect. Conclusion: Neck US was superior to DxWBS in the detection of recurrent PTC in these 2 pediatric patients. These findings are consistent with the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines that neck US is an ideal imaging modality in pediatric patients for the surveillance of PTC local recurrence or lymph node metastases.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Xavier Fernandez Mislang

Abstract Background: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Secreting Pituitary Adenoma (TSHoma) is a rare Endocrinologic finding occurring in 0.5–3% of all pituitary adenomas, and is even rarer to find it coexisting with differentiated thyroid cancer. Clinical Case: A 55-year-old male consulted last 2012 for palpitations and resting tachycardia. Initial tests revealed an ECG of sinus tachycardia, normal electrolytes and TSH 3.16 uIU/mL (0.27–4.2) and FT4 66 pmol/mL (12–22). He was referred to an Endocrinologist where thyroid ultrasound was done revealing bilaterally enlarged thyroid lobes with diffuse thyroid parenchymal changes, and a thyroid scan consistent with Graves’ Disease. He was started on methimazole and beta-blockers. Persistently elevated FT4 and a non-suppressed TSH prompted work-up for secondary hyperthyroidism. Pituitary MRI revealed a sellar mass measuring 3.4cm x 2.7cm x 2.6cm, noted to be compressing the left side of the optic chiasm and prechiasmatic left optic nerve laterally. The consideration was pituitary macroadenoma. He underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery but operative technique only involved near total excision of the adenoma due to proximity of the mass to the pre-chiasmatic left optic nerve. The tumor was reduced to 2.8cm x 1.6cm x 1.5cm. Histopathologic diagnosis and immuno-histochemical staining revealed pituitary tumor cells reactive to TSH but non-reactive to FSH, LH and GH. He eventually underwent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) which reduced the tumor size, but did not obliterate the tumor. His thyroid function tests persistently revealed elevated TSH and FT4 levels. Last January 2019, he manifested with an enlarged anterior neck mass. An ultrasound revealed thyromegaly with multiple nodules, largest at 1.4cm with multiple sub-centimeter nodules, mostly complex and solid in description. He underwent total thyroidectomy. Histopathology results revealed Papillary Thyroid Cancer with no extracapsular or lymphovascular invasion. He was scheduled for radioactive iodine at 100mci a month after. His I-131 whole body scan revealed foci of residual thyroid tissue but without distant mestastases. He is currently on levothyroxine at 225mcg daily therapy and advised annual cranial MRI readings which mostly showed a stable pituitary tumor. Conclusion: This is a case of TSHoma, S/P trans-sphenoidal surgery and intensity modulated radiation therapy with significant tumor residuals that eventually led to the development of Papillary Thyroid Cancer and subsequent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine administration. He is now on frequent tumor monitoring and levothyroxine suppression dose. Reference: P. Beck-Peccoz, A. Lania, A. Beckers, K. Chatterjee d, J.-L. Wemeau. 2013 European Thyroid Association Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyrotropin-Secreting Pituitary Tumors. Eur Thyroid J 2013;2:76–82.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fevziye Burcu Sirin ◽  
Hakan Korkmaz

AbstractIn the present study we report a case of thyroglobulin (TGB) measurement interference in a total thyroidectomized and radio-ablated 61-year old woman with papillary thyroid cancer. We investigated possible interference in the measurement of TGB due to discordant TGB in relation to clinical condition during the follow-up period. Serum TGB was measured with the chemiluminescence method using Beckman Coulter Unicel DxI 800 instrument. To investigate possible interference in TGB measurement serial dilutions, polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG), treatment with heterophile blocking tube (HBT), rheumatoid factor level determination and retesting of TGB with an alternative method were performed. Serial dilutions of the serum sample revealed linearity but a remarkable decrease in TGB in the patient’s serum samples post PEG and post HBT treatments. Also, TGB results under functional sensitivity level obtained with a different method suggested that TGB interference developed due to heterophile antibody presence in the serum sample. The patient had unnecessarily undergone expensive imaging techniques, and invasive procedures such as lymph node fine needle aspiration biopsy, before the analytical interference was suspected by the clinician. This report illustrates the importance of early communication and close collaboration between clinicians and laboratorians in order to avoid unnecessary clinical intervention.


BMC Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhichao Xing ◽  
Yuxuan Qiu ◽  
Zhe Li ◽  
Lingyun Zhang ◽  
Yuan Fei ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To investigate the association between postoperative lymph nodes (LNs) recurrence and distinct serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods This study included PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with at least central neck dissection and then re-operated due to recurrence of LNs between January 2013 and June 2018. These patients were grouped by negative or positive serum Tg levels according to the American Thyroid Association guidelines. Results Of the 60 included patients, 49 underwent radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. Maximum unstimulated Tg (uTg) ≥ 0.2 ng/mL were associated with larger diameter of recurrent LNs (P = 0.027), and higher rate of metastatic LNs (P < 0.001). Serum-stimulated Tg (off-Tg) ≥ 1 ng/mL (P = 0.047) and unstimulated Tg (on-Tg) ≥ 0.2 ng/Ml (P = 0.013) were associated with larger diameter of recurrent LNs. Number of metastatic LNs ≥ 8 was an independent predictor for postoperative maximum uTg ≥ 0.2 ng/mL (OR = 8.767; 95% CI = 1.392–55.216; P = 0.021). Ratio of metastatic LNs ≥ 25% was an independent predictor for off-Tg ≥ 1 ng/mL (OR = 20.997; 95% CI = 1.649–267.384; P = 0.019). Conclusion Postoperative Tg-positive status was associated with larger size of recurrent LNs. Number of metastatic LNs ≥ 8 and ratio of metastatic LNs ≥ 25% were independent predicators for uTg-positive and off-Tg-positive status, respectively.


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