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Unusual metastases from tall cell variant of papillary thyroid cancer
Author(s) -
Pagano Loredana,
Caputo Marina,
Samà Maria Teresa,
Zavattaro Marco,
Prodam Flavia,
Mauri Maria Grazia,
Pia Francesco,
Alonzo Amedeo,
Valente Guido,
Aimaretti Gianluca
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23346
Subject(s) - medicine , papillary thyroid cancer , thyroid cancer , thyroglobulin , disease , cancer , oncology , thyroid , pathology
Background Tall cell variant (TCV) cancer is considered more aggressive than the classic variant of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Distant metastases are more common among this variant and affect survival. Little is known about the molecular pattern of this histotype. Methods This is a report of 2 cases of unusual metastases from TCV, BRAF V600E‐positive. Results A 38‐year‐old woman developed subcutaneous metastases during short‐term follow‐up; at medium‐term follow‐up, the patient showed detectable stimulated serum thyroglobulin without disease evidence at imaging. A 33‐year‐old man presented incidental thymic metastases at time of surgical treatment; this is the first case of not ectopic thymic metastases from PTC. Conclusion TCV may present with unusual metastases already during early follow‐up. The more aggressive behavior could be linked to the higher prevalence of BRAF point mutations, but only a long‐term follow‐up might clarify if this association could worsen the prognosis. Moreover, skin metastases have been predictive factors of worse outcome in our patients, but not thymic metastases. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 35: E381–E385, 2013