Medullary thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and Graves' disease: an unusual clinical coexistence

J Endocrinol Invest. 2001 Dec;24(11):892-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03343948.

Abstract

We describe the unusual case of a Caucasian woman who had a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer and papillary microcarcinoma 5 years after a diagnosis of Graves' disease. The patient came to our observation for recurrence of hyperthyroidism. An ultrasound scan revealed diffuse thyroid enlargement with a nodule, recently increased in size. The serum CT and carcinoembrional antigen were elevated, and the fine-needle aspiration cytology with immunocytochemical analysis for CT was suggestive for medullary thyroid carcinoma. The nodular lesion showed intense 111In-pentetreotide uptake, whereas total body scintigraphy with the same tracer and with Thallium-201, 99mTc (V) dimercaptosuccinic acid was negative for lymph node and distant metastasis. The histological examination of thyroidectomy specimens confirmed the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer, showing a lymphocytic intratumoral infiltration. The histological analysis of the controlateral lobe showed an occult papillary microcarcinoma. Medullary thyroid carcinoma and papillary microcarcinoma showed intense staining with policlonal anti-RET antibodies, although genetic analysis was negative for RET mutations most frequently involved in familial and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas. Possible implications about the coexistence of the 3 thyroid diseases are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / complications*
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications*