Needle track seeding of papillary thyroid carcinoma from fine needle aspiration biopsy. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Dissemination of tumor cells from needle biopsy has been observed in a wide range of tumor types. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy has become accepted as the first-line test in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Local recurrence of thyroid cancer from needle track seeding is an extremely rare complication of thyroid FNA.


METHODS
A 59-year-old woman developed local recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma three years after FNA of the primary cancer. Local metastases developed in the skin and sternocleidomastoid muscle. The location of the recurrent cancer and the linear relationship of the metastases indicated that local recurrence was due to needle track seeding at the time of FNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Needle track seeding has been recognized as a possible, albeit rare, complication of FNA of thyroid cancer. Although proper FNA technique can reduce the potential for needle track seeding, its occurrence is an unavoidable complication of FNA evaluation of thyroid malignancies.
Karwowski
John K
JK
Department of Surgery, MSLS, Room P214, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Nowels
Kent W
KW
McDougall
I Ross
IR
Weigel
Ronald J
RJ
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*