Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with manifestations resembling Graves' disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid that mimicked a diffuse toxic goiter.


METHODS
We present a detailed case report, review related cases in the literature, and discuss the possible role of autoantibodies in promoting the growth of papillary thyroid tumor.


RESULTS
A 28-year-old woman had a 6-month history of weight loss, palpitations, increased anxiety, and enlargement of her thyroid gland. Laboratory studies confirmed the presence of hyperthyroidism. A 1-cm nodule was identified at the left upper pole of the thyroid. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of this nodule revealed papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Total thyroidectomy and a modified radical neck dissection were performed. Microscopic examination showed that the entire gland was replaced by a papillary carcinoma with a predominantly follicular pattern of growth. Of 44 lymph nodes tested, 31 were positive for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The presence of thyroid antibodies may have had a role in the aggressiveness of the patient's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first published report of a papillary thyroid cancer with manifestations resembling Graves' disease.
Bitton
R N
RN
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
Sachmechi
I
I
Tabriz
M S
MS
Murphy
L
L
Wasserman
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones