Aggressive behavior of papillary microcarcinoma in a patient with Graves' disease initially presenting as cystic neck mass.
Prognosis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid associated with Graves' disease is controversial; nevertheless, tumors smaller than 1 cm (microcarcinoma) are usually considered to render a good prognosis. We describe a patient with Graves' disease who developed a lateral cystic neck mass that was later confirmed to be a metastatic lymph node from papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Contrary to having a good prognosis with a microcarcinoma, our patient developed bilateral lung metastases. The possible role of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins in the aggressive course of the tumor is discussed.
Braga
M
M
Division of Endocrinology, Hospital Nossa Senhora Das Graças, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. bragamd@aol.com
Graf
H
H
Ogata
A
A
Batista
J
J
Hakim
Neto C A
NC
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013974:Thyroxine