Submandibular lymph node metastasis of occult thyroid carcinoma first suspected to be a salivary gland tumor: a case report

Background When diagnosing and treating neck masses, various diseases need to be considered, including benign or malignant tumors, lymph node-related diseases, and cysts. Thus, there may be cases in which making a definitive diagnosis is difficult on the basis of blood testing and imaging alone. Case presentation The patient was an 80-year-old Japanese female who presented with swelling in the right submandibular area. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography revealed a solid tumor with inhomogeneous content continuous with the submandibular gland. Therefore, the clinical diagnosis was salivary gland tumor. Surgical treatment was performed, and intraoperative frozen-section examination demonstrated submandibular lymph node metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. After surgical treatment, blood test for thyroid gland function yielded normal results except for increased thyroglobulin levels. Further positron-emission tomography–computed tomography and ultrasonography were performed, in addition to fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland and other tests; however, no other thyroid abnormalities were observed. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed no carcinomatous components. Close observational follow-up has been continued without thyroid gland treatment, and as of approximately 8 years postoperation, no recurrence, metastases, or thyroid carcinoma have developed. Conclusion The mass was lymph node metastasis of occult thyroid carcinoma. In general, occult thyroid carcinoma metastasizes to level II–V. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of submandibular lymph node metastasis alone of occult thyroid carcinoma.

Occult Thyroid Carcinoma: A Tertiary Hospital Experience in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction: There is a dearth of knowledge on the proportion that occult thyroid carcinoma constitutes amongst patients with thyroid cancer in our practice. This study was therefore conducted to review the cases of occult thyroid carcinoma with a focus on the presentation, management, and the outcome of care in a low resource tertiary hospital setting. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study of 62 patients who were managed for thyroid cancer over a 15-year-period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The patients who had more than two follow-up visits to the Thyroid Clinic, over the preceding fifteen years were included in this study. The types of surgeries performed on the patients were noted. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. We also identified the various limitations that might have hindered the effective care of such patients. Results: Sixty-two consecutive patients, 12 male (19.4%) and 50 females (80.6%) with a median interquartile age range of 45 years, were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The surgeries performed on the patients were total thyroidectomy, 48 (77.4%), completion-thyroidectomy, 14 (22.6%), near total thyroidectomy, etc. Occult thyroid cancer constituted 38 (61.3%) of the patients managed for thyroid cancer. The most common histology subtype was papillary carcinoma. We identified late presentation, inadequate oncologic surgery, financial constraint etc., as limitations of optimal care. Conclusions: In view of the proportion of occult thyroid cancer in this cohort of patients, the clinically benign goitres might contain carcinoma or micro-carcinoma. Therefore, an aggressive public health campaign to encourage early presentation of our patients and primary reduction through total thyroidectomy is recommended to improve the outcome of care.

Occult Thyroid Carcinoma without Malignant Thyroid Gland Findings during Preoperative Examination: Report of Three Cases

Occult thyroid carcinoma preceded by clinical manifestations and findings from extrathyroidal tumors is rare. The lack of malignant findings in the thyroid during the preoperative examination makes diagnosis difficult. We encountered a 71-year-old man with a primary ectopic thyroid carcinoma causing superior vena cava syndrome. Although no malignant findings were found in the thyroid gland, biopsy of bone metastases led to the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. HE staining of bone metastases revealed nuclear features of papillary carcinoma, and immunostaining was positive for thyroglobulin and PAX-8. The second case involved an 84-year-old man with a mediastinal tumor and suspected thyroid cancer because of high thyroglobulin levels in blood. The pathological tumor finding was papillary thyroid cancer. The last case was that of a 56-year-old woman lacking preoperative thyroid examination malignant findings, but with cervical lymph node metastasis. The thyroglobulin level of the lymph node puncture fluid was useful for preoperative diagnosis. We performed total thyroidectomy plus bilateral modified neck dissection. Pathology revealed a 1 mm papillary carcinoma in the left lobe. All of these cases were difficult to diagnose. However, we combined the results of various tests such as radiographic imaging, blood tests, and immunohistological tests to diagnose our patients.

Follicular Carcinoma of Thyroid Metastasizing to the Sphenoid Sinus

ABSTRACT Introduction Metastatic tumors to the nose and paranasal sinuses are unusual with 167 cases published in the literature since 1951. The most common locations of the primary tumors are renal, lung, breast, testis, gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland. There are only 26 documented cases of metastasis to the sphenoid sinus of which only six are from follicular carcinoma thyroid. Materials and methods Case reports of two patients referred to our department with ocular symptoms having a final diagnosis of follicular carcinoma thyroid with sphenoid sinus metastasis were studied and literature review done. Discussion Metastasis to the sphenoid sinus from follicular carcinoma thyroid is a rare entity and here we present two more cases of which one was an occult thyroid carcinoma. Both patients presented with ocular symptoms and the features of metastasis was the first sign of disease. Conclusion Early diagnosis of signs and symptoms relating to metastatic sphenoid disease is necessary as these are frequently the first presentation of malignancy. Even though cure of patients with sphenoid sinus metastasis has not been reported, palliation with resolution of morbidity is possible. How to cite this article Radhakrishnan SR, Andru A, Peetta-kkandy V. Follicular Carcinoma of Thyroid Metastasizing to the Sphenoid Sinus. Clin Rhinol An Int J 2015;8(2):53-57.