BACKGROUND: Secondary cancer of the thyroid gland is widely acknowledged as infrequent but is a persistent problem requiring ongoing awareness, particularly with respect to clinical recognition and treatment. METHODS: From 1978 to 1993, a 15-year period, patients demonstrating secondary involvement of the thyroid gland as a surgical problem were collected and analyzed with regard to pathology, demography, behavior of primary and secondary disease, treatment, and patient outcome. RESULTS: In the 15-year span, 11 patients with secondary involvement of the thyroid gland were recognized, consisting of 3 men and 8 women with primary lesions occurring in oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, skin, unknown, kidney, and lung. Needle biopsy produced a 90% malignancy rate but in only half of such cases was the diagnosis specific for secondary malignancy. Eight of 11 underwent palliative surgery, usually total thyroidectomy. No patient survived > 2 years. There was no undue surgical morbidity. One patient died of pulmonary embolus postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary cancer of the thyroid is rare and can be detected by fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the face of clinical findings. Where indicated, palliative thyroidectomy can be effective, because other methods of treatment appear ineffective.
BACKGROUND: Secondary cancer of the thyroid gland is widely acknowledged as infrequent but is a persistent problem requiring ongoing awareness, particularly with respect to clinical recognition and treatment. METHODS: From 1978 to 1993, a 15-year period, patients demonstrating secondary involvement of the thyroid gland as a surgical problem were collected and analyzed with regard to pathology, demography, behavior of primary and secondary disease, treatment, and patient outcome. RESULTS: In the 15-year span, 11 patients with secondary involvement of the thyroid gland were recognized, consisting of 3 men and 8 women with primary lesions occurring in oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, skin, unknown, kidney, and lung. Needle biopsy produced a 90% malignancy rate but in only half of such cases was the diagnosis specific for secondary malignancy. Eight of 11 underwent palliative surgery, usually total thyroidectomy. No patient survived > 2 years. There was no undue surgical morbidity. One patient died of pulmonary embolus postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary cancer of the thyroid is rare and can be detected by fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the face of clinical findings. Where indicated, palliative thyroidectomy can be effective, because other methods of treatment appear ineffective.
Authors: Yun Mi Choi; Eun Kyung Jang; Seong Hee Ahn; Min Ji Jeon; Ji Min Han; Seong Chul Kim; Duck Jong Han; Gyungyup Gong; Tae Yong Kim; Young Kee Shong; Won Bae Kim Journal: Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) Date: 2013-03-25
Authors: D Giuffrida; F Ferraù; A Pappalardo; R A Aiello; R Bordonaro; S Cordio; C Giannitto Giorgio; S Squatrito Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Iain J Nixon; Andrés Coca-Pelaz; Anna I Kaleva; Asterios Triantafyllou; Peter Angelos; Randall P Owen; Alessandra Rinaldo; Ashok R Shaha; Carl E Silver; Alfio Ferlito Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2016-11-21 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Hee Kyung Kim; Sung Sun Kim; Chan Young Oak; Soo Jeong Kim; Jee Hee Yoon; Ho-Cheol Kang Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2014-05-30 Impact factor: 2.153