Breast metastasis by medullary thyroid carcinoma detected by FDG positron emission tomography.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an uncommon thyroid cancer comprising 5% to 8% of thyroid neoplasms. In contrast to common thyroid tumors, this tumor originates from the calcitonin-producing C cells. Regional metastases to cervical lymph nodes occur early in the disease, whereas distant metastasis occurs late. Common metastatic sites include the liver, bone, brain, and adrenal medulla. We present a case of MTC metastatic to the breast. We report on this case for the following reasons: (1) metastasis to the breast is an extremely rare occurrence and could be easily confused clinically and pathologically with a primary breast neoplasm and (2) this is the first reported case of detection of breast metastasis by an MTC using FDG ((18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose) positron emission tomography with an accompanying histologic description.
Nofech-Mozes
Sharon
S
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5.
Mackenzie
Robert
R
Kahn
Harriette J
HJ
Ehrlich
Lisa
L
Raphael
Simon J
SJ
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin