Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid with contralateral malignant pleural effusion.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid cancers with pulmonary metastases have been well documented. However, malignant pleural effusion has rarely been reported.


METHODS
We present a 77-year-old patient who had Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid with contralateral malignant pleural effusion. The diagnosis was based on consistency in the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of pleural fluid cytology and the final pathology of the thyroid tumor.


RESULTS
The patient was treated with total thyroidectomy and postoperative radioactive-iodine ablation. Unfortunately, he died for recurrent pleural effusion and pulmonary complication 6 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying the origin of malignant pleural effusion is important to provide treatment guidance. In this report, we review the literature on diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer with malignant pleural effusion.
Hsu
Kuo-Feng
KF
Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325 Cheng-Kung Road Sec 2, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Hsieh
Chung-Bao
CB
Duh
Quan-Yang
QY
Chien
Chih-Feng
CF
Li
Heng-Sheng
HS
Shih
Ming-Lang
ML
D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome