title: Papillary thyroid cancer case masked by subacute thyroiditis.
abstract: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) association with thyroid carcinoma has been rarely reported in the literature. We present a patient with SAT and papillary thyroid cancer that was suspected by ultrasonographic evaluation (US) following SAT treatment. A fifty-four-year old female patient referred to our department due to tachycardia, jitteriness and pain in cervical region for the past one month. SAT diagnosis was established by physical examination, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings. After treatment, control thyroid US revealed regression of the hypoechogenic regions seen in both lobes, and a previously unreported hypoechogenic lesion with microcalcification focus that had irregular borders and was not clearly separated from the surrounding parenchyma located in the posterior aspect of the lobe (Elasto score: 4, Strain index: 7.08). Fine needle aspiration biopsy was taken from this nodule; cytology was assessed to be compatible with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Postsurgical pathology evaluation showed a papillary microcarcinoma. SAT may produce ultrasound changes that obscure the coexistence of papillary carcinoma. We recommend that patients with SAT have ultrasonography after they recover. Hypoechogenic regions bigger than 1 cm that are present in the follow-up post-therapy US should be assessed by biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ucan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakal
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muyesser Sayki
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nujen Colak
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013968:Thyroiditis, Subacute / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013972:Thyrotropin; D011239:Prednisolone