Thyroid metastases from a ductal carcinoma of the breast. A case report.
A case of bilateral thyroid metastases from ductal carcinoma of the breast is presented with emphasis on some unusual clinical findings: presentation after a long disease-free interval; clinical signs mimicking an acute thyroiditis; cystic structure of the left-sided metastatic nodule. Fine needle aspiration cytology from both nodules showed highly atypical tumor cells, such as to warrant a differential diagnosis between metastatic breast cancer on the one hand and anaplastic and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid on the other. Immunophenotypic study of the neoplasm on a cell block preparation of the aspirated material showed negativity for both thyroglobulin and calcitonin; instead, the tumor cells were strongly stained with antibodies against the "breast-related" markers alpha-lactalbumin and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15. Therefore, immunochemistry allowed us to establish a definite diagnosis of metastatic breast disease of the thyroid, thereby avoiding surgical procedures.
Ferrara
G
G
Servizio di Anatomia Patologica, Azienda Ospedaliera Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy.
Ianniello
G P
GP
Nappi
O
O
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm