American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 30, Issue 1 , Pages 61-64, January 2009

Metastatic insular thyroid carcinoma in the pediatric patient

  • Kimberly A. Donnellan, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State St, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA. Tel.: +1 601 984 5160; fax: +1 601 984 5085.
    • ,
  • Jeffery D. Carron, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
    • ,
  • Steven A. Bigler, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
    • ,
  • Richard O. Wein, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

Received 7 January 2008 published online 10 July 2008.

Abstract 

Objectives

The clinical history of a pediatric patient with metastatic insular thyroid carcinoma will be reviewed. Previously reported cases will be examined to allow for comparison of prognosis.

Methods

A 4-year-old female with the complaint of chronic cough, progressive shortness of breath, and weight loss for 2 months underwent cervical lymph node biopsy. The biopsy revealed metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Preoperative imaging was suspicious for miliary metastatic spread to the lungs.

Results

Surgical intervention included total thyroidectomy with bilateral paratracheal and modified radical neck dissections. The right internal jugular vein and recurrent laryngeal nerve were removed at the time of surgery because of gross tumor invasion. Final pathologic finding revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma with insular variant features and bilateral regional metastasis. Postoperatively, the patient underwent radioactive iodine I 131 treatment.

Conclusion

Pediatric metastatic insular thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon form of thyroid malignancy requiring aggressive surgical treatment and adjuvant radioactive iodine.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0196-0709(08)00011-2

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2008.01.002

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 30, Issue 1 , Pages 61-64, January 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution