• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2021

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland, but primary thyroid MEC has rarely been reported and usually has a good prognosis. Herein, I report a case of thyroidal MEC with a poor prognosis in an 82-year-old woman with an anterior neck mass. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a thyroid mass. The patient initially underwent fine-needle aspiration, was diagnosed with malignancy, and underwent a right lobectomy. On gross examination, a 4.0×3.6×2.6 cm-sized ill-defined, unencapsulated, and infiltrative tan to whitish mass with necrosis was identified. Microscopically, epidermoid tumor cell nests or solid sheets were identified. Mucous cells that were positive for periodic acid-Schiff and mucicarmine stains were also identified within epidermoid cell nests. Frequent mitosis and necrosis were observed. Immunohistochemical staining for p40 and p63 was positive, and that for thyroid transcription factor-1 and paired box gene 8 was focally positive. According to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology grading system for salivary gland MEC, the current case was classified as high-grade MEC. After surgery, the patient suffered from dyspnea due to a remnant neck mass that compressed and obstructed the trachea; therefore, the patient refused further treatment. Thyroidal MECs are considered low-grade with a favorable prognosis, but there are several reported cases of thyroidal MEC with poor prognosis. The current case is a rare presentation of high-grade thyroidal MEC with a poor prognosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.8-11
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• 2009

Background and Objectives : In the TNM 6th classification system, extrathyroidal invasion of differentiated thyroid carcinoma has been classified into T3(minimal invasion), T4a(extended invasion), and T4b(more extensive unresectable invasion) according to the degree and it has been recognized as an important prognostic factor. In this study, we investigated the prognostic significances of minimal extrathyroidal invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Material and Methods : We retrospectively studied 221 patients who are underwent thyroidectomy due to PTC from September 2003 to December 2006. Fifty-four(24.4%) patients had a PTC with minimal extrathyroidal invasion(Group A) and 167(75.6%) patients had a PTC without extrathyroidal invasion(Group B). The existence of minimal extrathyroidal invasion was based on operative and pathological findings. Results : Minimal extrathyroidal invasion in PTC was related to tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and operative method(p<0.001). But, there is no significant difference in age, gender, and multifocality between Group A and B. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was observed more frequently in Group B(p=0.019). Conclusion : These findings suggest that minimal extrathyroidal invasion is related to poor prognostic factors in PTC. Therefore, aggressive surgical approach is required when there is evidence of minimal extrathyroidal invasion in preoperative radiologic examination or operative finding.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1125-1131
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• 1997

Occult papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid is known to be indolent, slow metastatic, and has a good prognosis. Occult thyroid carcinoma presenting as a blood-borne metastasis without obvious cervical lymph node involvement is extremely rare. A 65-year-old male patient was visited for hoarseness, dysphagia, and shortness of breath. Bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed a papillary carcinoma of thyroid by immunohistochemical staining. Head & neck CT revealed that involving both the upper esophagus and the posterior tracheal wall, extending into the mediastinum along the upper thoracic spine at $T_1-T_2$. We have experienced a rare case of occult papillary carcinoma which invaded the trachea, esophagus and fascia of thoracic spine. Treatment was initiated with radioactive iodine and external bean therapy.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2001

Sclerosing rnucoepidermoid carcinoma with eosinophilia(SMECE)는 1991년 Chan 등이 처음 보고한 이후로 현재까지 전세계적으로 단 17예 만이 보고된 매우 희귀한 갑상선 암종이다. 조직학적으로는 종양 내에 일부 점액성 세포와 증식된 상피성 세포들을 관찰할 수 있고, 조직내 호산구성 세포들이 자주 관찰된다. 대부분의 기질은 밀집된 섬유성 조직으로 구성되어 있으며, 하시모토 갑상선염이 동반되어 있는 것이 특장적이다. 종양의 악성도는 최초 보고인 Chan 등에 의하면 국소 재발 및 원격전이를 거의 하지 않는 예후가 좋은 암종으로 보고되었는데, 이후 여러 문헌에서 국소 침윤, 국소 재발, 원격 전이 및 사망이 발생하여 예후가 매우 불량했던 증례들을 보고한 바 있어 악성도에 대한 시각은 달라지고 있다. 본 저자들은 최근 병리적 진단이 매우 어려웠고, 국소침윤과 림프절 전이 소견을 보였으며, 수술 후 빠른 시일 내에 급속히 재발하였던 악성도가 매우 높은 sclerosing mucoepidermoid thyroid carcinoma with eosinophilia (SMECE) 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2021

A giant thyroid mass can be associated with severe compressive symptoms, requiring surgery for treatment. This paper reports the case of an 82-year-old man who presented with a giant thyroid mass that was suspected of being a metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology. A harmonic scalpel was used to excise the giant thyroid mass. A pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was used for reconstruction. The histopathology assessment confirmed the metastases in the lymph node and papillary thyroid carcinoma in the resected gland.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2006

Purpose: Previous studies have not showed consistent results for the level of expression of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) in thyroid diseases, especially malignant tumor. We undertook this study to evaluate the distribution of NIS expression in malignant thyroid diseases and compare with that in benign thyroid disease. Materials and Methods: Total patients were 119 cases (Men 15, $48{\pm}13$ yrs). Total number of samples were 205 pieces. In malignant thyroid disease, there were 153 samples: 90 in papillary carcinoma, 4 in follicular carcinoma, 2 in medullary carcinoma and 57 in metastatic lymph node. In benign thyroid disease, there were 52 samples: 36 in goiter/cyst, 11 in thyroiditis and 5 in follicular adenoma. Using immunohistochemical methods, we probed 205 samples with monoclonal anti-NIS Ab. Grading of staining was stored as 0 (negative or absent), 1 (weakly positive), 2 (moderately positive) or 3 (strongly positive). Expression rate (ER) of NIS positivity in individual disease entity was expressed as percentage of total number divided by number in 2 plus 3 grade. Results: ERs of malignant thyroid diseases were 63% in papillary carcinoma, 81% in metastatic lymph node, 71% in follicular carcinoma and 100% in medullary carcinoma. ERs of benign thyroid disease were 53% in goiter/cyst, 64% in thyroiditis and 40% in follicular adenoma. ER of malignant thyroid diseases was higher than benign thyroid diseases (71% vs 54%). Grading of NIS expression in papillary carcinoma or goiter/cyst was heterogeneously distributed in considerable cases. Normal tissue also showed heterogeneous distribution of NIS expression, which was not correlated with that of primary lesion. Conclusion: In papillary thyroid carcinoma, distribution of NIS expression was heterogeneous and increased, and not different compared with that of benign thyroid disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2007

Lung cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma are the common oncologic causes of malignant pleural effusion, comprising more than the half of the causes. However, an endocrinologic carcinoma associated malignant effusion is very rare. Recently, we encountered a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma causing malignant effusion. An 83-year-old female patient presented with dyspnea due to massive pleural effusion in her left side. The pleural biopsy, pleural fluid cytology and breast needle aspiration biopsy results were consistent with a metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid ultrasonography showed two thyroid masses, but the patient refused a thyroid biopsy. This case highlights the need for considering the possibility of papillary thyroid carcinoma when the cause of malignant pleural effusion cannot be found because one of the rare clinical manifestations of a papillary thyroid carcinoma can be dyspnea due to malignant effusion.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-89
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• 2002

A 30 year-old female patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma received her fifth radioiodine ablation therapy after the subtotal thyroidectomy. The scan, which was peformed one week after the last therapy, revealed residual uptake in the thyroid bed and uptake in the anterior mediastinum suggesting metastasis. However, further evaluation of the thorax with chest CT and camera-based FDG PET confirmed normal thymus without metastatic focus. Occasionally thymus remains intact in adult and has avidity for I-131 and FDG. Therefore, normal thymus (instead of metastasis) should be considered in patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma and anterior mediastinal radioiodine uptake.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.393-397
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• 2001

Surgery, radioiodine therapy, and thyroxine treatment represent established therapeutic measures of proven efficacy for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. However, in some cases, dedifferentiation is noted and it makes tumors refractory to conventional treatment. Recently, retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy was evaluated in several in vitro and in vivo studios. We report a patient with papillary carcinoma in whom metastatic lesions became radioiodine negative on high-dose therapy. Redifferentiation therapy with retinoic acid induced radioiodine uptake in some of metastatic tissues. Side effects such as xerostomia and cheilosis were mild. We recommend retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy as an option for the treatment of thyroid cancer with negative radioiodine uptake after high-dose radioiodine therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2019

Malignant transformation of ovarian mature cystic teratomas is rare, and papillary thyroid cancer occurs in 0.1%-0.3% of ovarian teratomas that undergo malignant transformation. We describe a case of successful in vitro fertilization pregnancy and delivery after a fertility-sparing laparoscopic operation in a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma.