Papillary thyroid cancer recurrence 43\xa0Years following Total Thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation: a case report

Yaw Amoako-Tuffour,S Mark Taylor,Robert D Hart,M Elise Graham,Matthew H Rigby,Martin Bullock,Jonathan Trites

doi:10.1186/s13044-017-0043-4

Yaw Amoako-Tuffour, S Mark Taylor + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-017-0043-4

Copy DOI

Journal: Thyroid Research	Publication Date: Oct 10, 2017
Citations: 13	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Dalhousie University

Abstract

BackgroundRecurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) beyond the first two decades of definitive treatment (i.e. total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation) is a rare occurrence.Case presentationWe present a case of a 71-year old Caucasian female with a distant history of PTC treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation who experienced recurrence of her disease 43 years following initial diagnosis and definitive treatment. She presented with palpable left-sided neck mass and subsequently underwent a level II, III, neck dissection and adjuvant iodine ablation. This case presents the latest recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer documented to date in the literature.ConclusionThis case exemplifies the need for the head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, general practitioner and radiologist to consider new lateral neck mass as late-presenting recurrence of PTC until proven otherwise regardless of low recurrence rates beyond two decades from treatment and low prognostic risk scores.

Highlights

Recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) beyond the first two decades of definitive treatment is a rare occurrence.Case presentation: We present a case of a 71-year old Caucasian female with a distant history of PTC treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation who experienced recurrence of her disease 43 years following initial diagnosis and definitive treatment
This case exemplifies the need for the head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, general practitioner and radiologist to consider new lateral neck mass as late-presenting recurrence of PTC until proven otherwise regardless of low recurrence rates beyond two decades from treatment and low prognostic risk scores
Given the findings from surgical pathology, it was decided that the patient would benefit from radioactive iodine ablation and the patient was referred for adjuvant therapy

Summary

Conclusion

This case exemplifies the need for the head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, general practitioner and radiologist to consider new lateral neck mass as late-presenting recurrence of PTC until proven otherwise regardless of low recurrence rates beyond two decades from treatment and low prognostic risk scores.

Background

Findings

Discussion and conclusions