Concurrent papillary thyroid cancer with pituitary ACTH-secreting tumor.
Concomitant thyroid cancer with pituitary tumor is uncommon. This study reports a case of advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma with pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumor. A 58-year-old male patient had thyroid cancer in 1991 and presented with headache caused by pituitary tumor with apoplexy in 1993. Due to hypopituitarism, the patient underwent radioactive iodide ((131)I) for detection and treatment of metastatic thyroid cancer after the use of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) in 2000. During follow-up for thyroid cancer, (201)thallium scan proved to be an effective tool for detecting metastatic thyroid cancer in the patient without pituitary TSH reserve. Pituitary ACTH-secreting tumor was confirmed in 2001 based on the high serum ACTH level and positive immunohistochemical stain for ACTH. The patient had no Cushingoid features. Moreover, serum ACTH levels were 337 and 232 pg/mL with normal serum cortisol and urine-free cortisol. Although the patient underwent three operations and a total of 370 mCi (131)I therapy for recurrent thyroid cancer, the cancer continued to progress. Finally, the patient died of pneumonia with septic shock 12 years after the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
Kuo
Sheng-Fong
SF
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chen
Jeng-Yeou
JY
Chuang
Wen-Yu
WY
Jung
Shih-Ming
SM
Chang
Yu-Chen
YC
Lin
Jen-Der
JD
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone