Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Tuberculous Lymphadenopathy: An Unfortunate Dual Pathology

Authors

  • Nornazirah Azizan Department of Pathobiology and Medical Diagnostic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Firdaus Hayati Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Nor Faezan Abdul Rashid Department of General Surgery, Surgical Sciences Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Shahrun Niza Abdullah Suhaimi Department of Surgery, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma usually spreads through lymphatic route, presents as regional lymphadenopathy similar to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis of the cervical regions. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman with synchronous coexistence of tuberculosis and metastatic carcinoma in dissected lymph nodes. Total thyroidectomy is the standard care of treatment with additional neck dissection in clinically positive neck nodes. In the endemic areas and previous history of tuberculosis contact, the possibility of synchronous co-occurrence of these two pathologies should be considered thus anti-tuberculous treatment can be initiated concurrently.

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Published

15.03.2018

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