A case of mixed medullary and follicular cell carcinoma of the thyroid

Intern Med. 2011;50(12):1313-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4749. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Abstract

A medullary thyroid carcinoma is a malignant tumor derived from the C-cells of the thyroid. Despite their distinct embryological origin, medullary thyroid carcinomas are exceptionally accompanied by a tumor derived from the follicular cells; this is defined as mixed medullary and follicular cell carcinoma. There have been controversies regarding the origin of this rare mixed thyroid carcinoma questioning whether or not a mixed carcinoma originates from a common cancer stem cell. We present a case of mixed medullary and follicular cell carcinoma in which two thyroid carcinomas were found intermingled in the thyroid as well as in the metastatic cervical lymph nodes. We examined the tumor by immunostaining with thyroglobulin, calcitonin, and thyroid transcription factor-1, and also reviewed the literature and discuss the origin of this rare mixed thyroid carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / secondary
  • Adult
  • Calcitonin / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Thyroglobulin / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • NKX2-1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Calcitonin
  • Thyroglobulin

Supplementary concepts

  • Thyroid cancer, medullary