Re-operation for recurrent lymph node metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer--is it useful?
Recurrent disease in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) occurs frequently. Repeated measurements of calcitonin levels as well as imaging techniques may help detect such recurrence or metastatic disease. Re-operative tumour excision may be a good therapeutic option to treat patients with recurrence and is believed to substantially lengthen life expectancy. However, it only leads to cure in 50% of patients. Two repeatedly operated patients with recurrent MTC are presented and the literature is discussed.
Academic Surgical Centre Stuivenberg, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
B
B
Vriens
R
R
Van Hee
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin