Unique Case of a Large Indolent Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Time to Reconsider the Medullary Thyroid Adenoma Entity?

Calcitonin Carcinoembryonic antigen Medullary thyroid cancer

Journal

European thyroid journal
ISSN: 2235-0640
Titre abrégé: Eur Thyroid J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101604579

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Apr 2019
Historique:
received: 06 07 2018
accepted: 03 10 2018
entrez: 14 6 2019
pubmed: 14 6 2019
medline: 14 6 2019
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine cancer originating from parafollicular, calcitonin (Ctn)-producing C-cells. Prognosis correlates with primary tumor stage and Ctn levels. We describe a case of MTC involving a mass 7 cm in its largest dimension, associated with high Ctn concentrations (> 5,000 pg/mL), but normal carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and with no lymph nodes or distant metastases, in complete remission after thyroid surgery. The MTC had very peculiar histological features, with an expansive, noninfiltrating growth around the thyroid follicles, and no signs of invasion. These histopathological characteristics are reminiscent of the C-cell adenoma described in animals. The tumor also revealed an ossifying extracellular matrix unlike the classical amyloid. Despite the size of the tumor and the patient's high Ctn levels at diagnosis, the case described here reached complete remission after surgery. Further studies are needed to clarify the characteristics of MTC and better predict its behavior at diagnosis.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine cancer originating from parafollicular, calcitonin (Ctn)-producing C-cells. Prognosis correlates with primary tumor stage and Ctn levels.
PATIENT METHODS
We describe a case of MTC involving a mass 7 cm in its largest dimension, associated with high Ctn concentrations (> 5,000 pg/mL), but normal carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and with no lymph nodes or distant metastases, in complete remission after thyroid surgery. The MTC had very peculiar histological features, with an expansive, noninfiltrating growth around the thyroid follicles, and no signs of invasion. These histopathological characteristics are reminiscent of the C-cell adenoma described in animals. The tumor also revealed an ossifying extracellular matrix unlike the classical amyloid. Despite the size of the tumor and the patient's high Ctn levels at diagnosis, the case described here reached complete remission after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed to clarify the characteristics of MTC and better predict its behavior at diagnosis.

Identifiants

pubmed: 31192151
doi: 10.1159/000494675
pii: etj-0008-0108
pmc: PMC6514480
doi:

Types de publication

Case Reports

Langues

eng

Pagination

108-112

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Auteurs

Simona Censi (S)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Elisabetta Cavedon (E)

Familial Tumor Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, (IOV)-IRCCS, Padua, Italy.

Sara Watutantrige-Fernando (S)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Susi Barollo (S)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Loris Bertazza (L)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Jacopo Manso (J)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Maurizio Iacobone (M)

Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences (DiSCOG), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Davide Nacamulli (D)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Francesca Galuppini (F)

Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Gianmaria Pennelli (G)

Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Caterina Mian (C)

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Classifications MeSH