Coexistent Familial Nonmultiple Endocrine Neoplasia Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Associated With RET Polymorphism

Simultaneous occurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and lymphoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer, the coexistence of PTC and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is uncommon. While the simultaneous occurrence of both cancers with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in lymph nodes with PTC metastasis is very rare. This study presents a unique case of concurrent PTC, MTC, and SLL, highlighting the exceptional rarity of these coexisting tumors.

METHODS

A 75-year-old female with a thyroid tumor underwent total thyroidectomy, bilateral central neck lymph node dissection, and right radical neck lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination revealed a low-grade medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in the left lobe and classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the right lobe, with PTC metastasis in the cervical lymph nodes and concurrent SLL in the affected lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Coexistence of PTC, MTC and SLL in the same patient is rare, there are currently no standardized treatment guidelines due to the limited literature. However, it is essential to consider not only the treatment for each type of tumor but also the potential risks or conflicts associated with the treatments. In the case reported in this paper, the papillary carcinoma invaded the capsule of the right lobe of the thyroid and metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes, warranting radioactive iodine therapy. However, considering the potential negative impact of radioactive iodine on the pre-existing lymphoma, the radioactive iodine therapy was postponed. Meanwhile, constant monitoring of calcitonin and thyroid globulin should be performed to monitor tumor recurrence as was performed in the present case.

CONCLUSION

Since MTC, PTC, and SLL may coexist, patients with PTC deserve careful surveillance for the other disease entities. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness among clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists regarding the possibility of concurrent thyroid tumors and abnormal lymph nodes, guiding comprehensive pre-operative evaluations and postoperative monitoring strategies. This study aims to provide a warning for routine pathological diagnosis and contribute data for related research.

Synchronous occurrence of medullary and papillary thyroid cancer and survival rates

PURPOSE

Concurrence of medullary and papillary thyroid carcinoma (MTC and PTC) represents less than 1% of all thyroid malignancies. We aimed to reveal the demographic and clinical characteristics of this rare pathology and to evaluate the effect of the same or contralateral lobular localization of these two malignancies in clinical and laboratory features. Evaluation of progression-free survival (PFS) in current pathology is one of the important features of our study.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with simultaneous MTC and PTC after thyroidectomy were evaluated retrospectively. Data on the following variables were recorded: age, gender, tumor localization (ipsilateral lobe located MTC and PTC-Group I, contralateral lobe located MTC and PTC-Group II), tumor size, cervical lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, tumor stage, postoperative basal calcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen, thyroglobulin (Tg), and anti-Tg values. In all our cases, since MTC progressed before PTC, progression was accepted as serum calcitonin values exceeded 150 pg/mL.

RESULTS

Groups were formed as follows: Group I, four cases where MTC and PTC were localized in different foci in the same lobe; Group II, nine cases where they were localized in different lobes. There was only one case in which two tumors were located in the same focus. The case with dual differentiation was included in Group I (35. 7%). When the PFS of the two groups were compared, no statistically significant difference was found ( P = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of this analysis, the location of the simultaneously detected PTC in the same or different lobes with the MTC does not make a significant difference in clinical and laboratory features.

Collision tumors of the thyroid. A special clinical and pathological entity

Thyroid collision tumors are rare entities that designate two histologically and morphologically distinct tumors that occur simultaneously or as metastases from other organs within the thyroid. Medullary and papillary carcinoma co-occurrence is the most frequent. Several theories tried to explain the pathogenic mechanisms underlining collision tumors, including the theory which assumes that one tumor predisposes the other, stem cell theory, and random effect theory, but their combination better explains the origin of these tumors. Hypotheses about common genetic behavior responsible for the pathogenesis have also been suggested, such as the involvement of germline mutation of RET (Rearranged during Transfection) proto-oncogene in medullary thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma coexistence, but there is controversy on this topic. Management of thyroid collision tumors is challenging owing to the presence of two distinct tumors with different biological aggressiveness, treatments options, and prognosis, and needs to be individualized.

Consensus statement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) and the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section (AHNS-ES) on Pediatric Benign and Malignant Thyroid Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To provide a clinical disease state review of recent relevant literature and to generate expert consensus statements regarding the breadth of pediatric thyroid cancer diagnosis and care, with an emphasis on thyroid surgery. To generate expert statements to educate pediatric practitioners on the state-of-the-art practices and the value of surgical experience in the management of this unusual and challenging disease in children.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted and statements were constructed and subjected to a modified Delphi process to measure the consensus of the expert author panel. The wording of statements, voting tabulation, and statistical analysis were overseen by a Delphi expert (J.J.S.).

RESULTS

Twenty-five consensus statements were created and subjected to a modified Delphi analysis to measure the strength of consensus of the expert author panel. All statements reached a level of consensus, and the majority of statements reached the highest level of consensus.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric thyroid cancer has many unique nuances, such as bulky cervical adenopathy on presentation, an increased incidence of diffuse sclerosing variant, and a longer potential lifespan to endure potential complications from treatment. Complications can be a burden to parents and patients alike. We suggest that optimal outcomes and decreased morbidity will come from the use of advanced imaging, diagnostic testing, and neural monitoring of patients treated at high-volume centers by high-volume surgeons.

Consensus Statement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) and the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section (AHNS) on Pediatric Benign and Malignant Thyroid Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To provide a clinical disease state review of recent relevant literature and to generate expert consensus statements regarding the breadth of pediatric thyroid cancer diagnosis and care, with an emphasis on thyroid surgery. To generate expert statements to educate pediatric practitioners on the state-of-the-art practices and the value of surgical experience in the management of this unusual and challenging disease in children.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted and statements were constructed and subjected to a modified Delphi process to measure the consensus of the expert author panel. The wording of statements, voting tabulation, and statistical analysis were overseen by a Delphi expert (J.J.S.).

RESULTS

Twenty-five consensus statements were created and subjected to a modified Delphi analysis to measure the strength of consensus of the expert author panel. All statements reached a level of consensus, and the majority of statements reached the highest level of consensus.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric thyroid cancer has many unique nuances, such as bulky cervical adenopathy on presentation, an increased incidence of diffuse sclerosing variant, and a longer potential lifespan to endure potential complications from treatment. Complications can be a burden to parents and patients alike. We suggest that optimal outcomes and decreased morbidity will come from the use of advanced imaging, diagnostic testing, and neural monitoring of patients treated at high-volume centers by high-volume surgeons.

Epidemiology of Simultaneous Medullary and Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas (MTC/PTC): An Italian Multicenter Study

Background: The concomitant presence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and medullary TC (MTC) is rare. In this multicentric study, we documented the epidemiological characteristics, disease conditions and clinical outcome of patients with simultaneous MTC/PTC. Methods: We collected data of patients with concomitant MTC/PTC at 14 Italian referral centers. Results: In total, 183 patients were enrolled. Diagnosis was mostly based on cytological examination (n = 58, 32%). At diagnosis, in the majority of cases, both PTC (n = 142, 78%) and MTC (n = 100, 54%) were at stage I. However, more cases of stage II–IV were reported with MTC (stage IV: n = 27, 15%) compared with PTC (n = 9, 5%). Information on survival was available for 165 patients: 109 patients (66%) were disease-free for both PTC and MTC at the last follow-up. Six patients died from MTC. Median time to progression was 123 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 89.3–156.7 months). Overall, 45% of patients were disease-free after >10 years from diagnosis (125 months); this figure was 72.5% for PTC and 51.1% for MTC. Conclusions: When MTC and PTC are concurrent, the priority should be given to the management of MTC since this entity appears associated with the most severe impact on prognosis.

Synchronous occurrence of medullary and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in a patient with cutaneous melanoma: determination of BRAFV600E in peripheral blood and tissues. Report of a case and review of the literature

The purpose of this study is to describe a case of concurrent medullary and papillary thyroid carcinoma (MTC and PTC) and cutaneous melanoma and to analyze BRAF(V600E) mutation in plasma and tissues. We report the clinical history and the laboratory, imaging, and histopathological findings of a 47-year-old man affected by multinodular goiter. BRAF(V600E)-mutated DNA was quantified in plasma samples and in cancer sections by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). At ultrasound examination, the dominant right nodule of the thyroid was weakly hyperechoic and hypervascularized, while the left one was hypoechoic without internal vascularization. Regional lymphadenomegalia was not detected. Basal plasma calcitonin was elevated, and the patient underwent total thyroidectomy and resection of central cervical lymph nodes. Histopathological examination identified two distinct foci of MTC and PTC and micrometastasis of well-differentiated carcinoma in one of the six resected lymph nodes. RET proto-oncogene germline mutations were not detected. Cutaneous melanoma of the thorax was subsequently diagnosed. BRAF(V600E) tissue DNA was detected in PTC and melanoma but not in MTC. The cell-free plasma percentage of BRAF(V600E) DNA was detected in pre-thyroidectomy peripheral blood and was drastically reduced after cancer treatments. This study confirms the occurrence of synchronous MTC and PTC and is the first evidence of the co-existence of melanoma and distinct thyroid cancers of different origin. BRAF(V600E) allele was detected in PTC and melanoma but not in MTC tissues. BRAF(V600E) molecular quantification in pre- and post-treatment blood supports our previous data, suggesting its possible role in diagnosis and follow-up of BRAF-positive tumors.

Simultaneous presentation of giant pheochromocytoma, primary hyperparathyroidism, and mixed-medullary-papillary thyroid cancer in MEN 2A

The aim of this study was to describe a young man with probably the largest pheochromocytoma associated with MEN 2A, described till date. The patient, a non-vegetarian, fifth of eight siblings, married, having five children, presented with episodes of difficult-to-control hypertension requiring over five antihypertensives. He was referred to us with an abdominal CT scan that revealed a 16 cm left-sided adrenal mass. Biochemical testing confirmed a catecholamine secreting pathology. Histopathology confirmed the mass as a pheochromocytoma weighing 1.8 kg. Further evaluation suggested a parathormone-dependent hypercalcemia and a left-sided thyroid mass. Histopathology confirmed parathyroid hyperplasia and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid mixed with papillary carcinoma of thyroid. Putting all the findings together showed that the patient was suffering from multiple endocrine neoplasia 2. Multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A is a rare syndrome. The case is unique in the way it presented, with all the three tumors at the same time. The management was bold and addressed all the three lesions in the same hospital admission. We are also reporting the largest described case of pheochromocytoma from India.