Dramatic response of follicular thyroid carcinoma with superior vena cava syndrome and tracheal obstruction to external-beam radiotherapy.
We report a patient with follicular thyroid carcinoma progressing to superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome and tracheal obstruction despite multiple doses of radioactive iodine therapy but subsequently responding dramatically to external-beam radiotherapy (RT). Although RT is not considered to be the treatment of choice for follicular carcinoma, RT in our patient produced unequivocal improvement of SVC syndrome and tracheal obstruction.
Wilford
M R
MR
Section of Endocrinology, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia 25703.
Chertow
B S
BS
Lepanto
P B
PB
Leidy
J W
JW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012074:Remission Induction; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes