Rare Mixed Thyroid Carcinomas: A Report of Two Cases

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Department of ENT, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi-110060.

2 Department of Pathology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi-110060.

Abstract

Introduction:
Thyroid cancers constitute 0.5%- 1% of all cancers of which differentiated cancers are most common. Mixed thyroid carcinomas are rare entities comprising only 0.5% of thyroid cancers. These tumours pose challenges in diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.
 
Case Report:
Here, we present two rare cases of these mixed thyroid carcinomas. The first is that of a 21 year old female diagnosed with medullary thyroid carcinoma by the method of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). She underwent definitive surgical treatment. Final histopathology revealed diagnosis of a nodular tumour with mixed features predominantly medullary carcinoma with areas of follicular carcinoma, confirmed on immunohistochemistry. Second report is that of a 45-year- old female diagnosed as medullary thyroid carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Definitive surgical treatment was performed. Histopathology showed a mixed tumour with medullary and papillary components as confirmed through the process of immunohistochemistry.
Conclusions:
The knowledge of these rare carcinomas is important in avoiding a dilemma in management of this condition. Detection of these mixed tumours is difficult by FNAC. The definitive treatment essentially requires recognition of medullary component. We re-emphasize the importance of immune-histochemistry in arriving at an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 34, Issue 1
January and February 2022
Pages 55-57

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