Skip to main content
Log in

Thyroid carcinoma mimicking a toxic adenoma

  • Case Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A young woman with a thyroid papillary carcinoma behaving as an autonomously hyperfunctioning nodule is described. Only 17 similar patients have been seen in the past 25 years. It is emphasized that hyperthyroidism does not exclude malignant disease in hot nodules. This possibility suggests that all thyroid nodules, either cold or hot, require careful management. Therefore, in “at risk” cases, surgery could be the most useful treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Razzak M, Christie JH (1979) Thyroid carcinoma in an autonomously functioning nodule. J Nucl Med 20:1001–1002

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashcraft MW, Van Herle AJ (1981) Management of thyroid nodules. II. Scanning techniques, thyroid suppressive therapy and fine needle aspiration. Head Neck Surg 3:297–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann K, Weitzel M, Bürgi H (1979) Hormonproduzierendes Schilddrüsenkarzinom mit Hyperthyreose. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 109:309–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker FO, Economou PG, Schwartz TB (1963) The occurrence of carcinoma in “hot” thyroid nodules. Ann Intern Med 58:877–882

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper DS, Ridgway EC, Maloof F (1978) Unusual types of hyperthyroidism. Clin Endocrinol Metab 7:199–220

    Google Scholar 

  • De Groot LJ, Sridama V (1989) Thyroid neoplasia. In: De Groot LJ (ed) Endocrinolgy, vol. 1. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, p 759

    Google Scholar 

  • Dische S (1964) The radioisotope scan applied to the detection of carcinoma in thyroid swellings. Cancer 17:473–479

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukata S, Tamai H, Matsubayashi S, Nagai K, Hirota Y, Matsuzuka F, Katayama S, Kuma K, Nagataki S (1987) Thyroid carcinoma and hot nodule. Eur J Nucl Med 13:313–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgiadis NJ, Leoutsakos BG, Katsas AG (1971) The association of thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. Intern Surg 55:27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose MK, Genuth SM, Abellera RM, Friedman S, Lidsky I (1971) Functioning primary thyroid carcinoma and metastases producing hyperthyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol 33:639–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Guinet P, Tourniaire J, Radi A (1972) Hyperthyroidie et cancer thyroidien. Rev Fr Endocrinol Clin Nutr Met 13:199–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopwood NJ, Carroll RG, Kenny FM, Foley TP (1976) Functioning thyroid masses in childhood and adolescence. J Pediatr 89:710–718

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoving J, Piers DA, Vermey A, Oosterhuis JW (1981) Carcinoma in hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule in recurrent hyperthyroidism. Eur J Nucl Med 6:131–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall LW, Condon RE (1969) Prediction of malignancy in solitary thyroid nodules. Lancet 1:1071–1073

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan O, Ell PJ, Maclennan KA, Kurtz A, Williams ES (1981) Thyroid carcinoma in an autonomously hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule. Postgrad Med J 57:172–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruter RHE, Liedtke M, De Castro JAS, Gross JL (1981) T3 hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Clin Endocrinol 16:121–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamberg BA, Mäkinen J, Murtomaa M (1976) Papillary thyroid carcinoma in a toxic adenoma. Nucl Med 15:138–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Leiter L, Seidlin SM, Marinelli LD, Baumann EJ (1946) Adenocarcinoma of the thyroid with hyperthyroidism and functional metastases. J Clin Endocrinol 6:247–261

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin RP, Sholz DA, McConahey WM, Childs DS (1970) Metastatic thyroid carcinoma with hyperthyroidism: two cases with functioning metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma. Mayo Clin Proc 45:328–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Meissner WA, Warren S (1969) Tumors of the thyroid gland. In: Firminger HI (ed) Atlas of tumor pathology, 2nd series, fast 4. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC, p 60

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JM (1978) Hyperthyroidism from the thyroid follicle with autonomous function. Clin Endocrinol Metab 7:177–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JM (1980) Thyroid carcinoma in an autonomously functioning nodule. J Nucl Med 21:296–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JM, Hamburger JI (1965) The thyroid scintigram-I. The hot nodule. Radiology 84:66–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagai GR, Pitts WC, Basso L, Cisco JA, McDougall IR (1987) Scintigraphic hot nodules and thyroid carcinoma. Clin Nucl Med 12:123–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima T, Inoue K, Shiro-ozu A, Yoshinari M, Okamura K, Itoh M (1981) Predominant T3 synthesis in the metastatic thyroid carcinoma in a patient with T3-toxicosis. Metabolism 30:327–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemec J, Zamrazil V, Vana S, Pohunkova D, Zeman V, Nahodil V, Röhling S, Bednar J (1982) Clinical and pathogenetic problems in hyperthyroid syndrome in thyroid cancer. Acta Univ Carol Med 28:119–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Olen E, Klinck GH (1966) Hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Arch Pathol 81:531–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Paynter OE, Burin GJ, Jaeger RB, Gregorio CA (1988) Goitrogens and thyroid follicular cell neoplasia: evidence for a threshold process. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 8:102–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Perlmutter M, Slater SL, Attie J (1954) Method for preoperative differentiation between benign and possibly malignant solitary nontoxic thyroid nodule. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 14:672–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Rösler H, Wimpfheimer C, Ruchti C, Kinser J, Teuscher J (1984) Hyperthyreose bei maligner struma. Nucl Med 23:293–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobel RJ, Liel Y, Goldstein J (1985) Papillary carcinoma and the solitary autonomously functioning nodule of the thyroid. Isr J Med Sci 21:878–882

    Google Scholar 

  • Spaulding SW, Lippes H (1985) Hyperthyroidism: causes, clinical features and diagnosis. Med Clin N Am 69:937–951

    Google Scholar 

  • Sussman L, Librik L, Clayton GW (1968) Hyperthyroidism attributable to a hyperfunctioning thyroid carcinoma. J Pediatr 72:208–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Valenta L, Lemarchand-Beraud T, Nemec J, Griessen M, Bednar J (1970) Metastatic thyroid carcinoma provoking hyperthyroidism, with elevated circulating thyrostimulators. Am J Med 48:72–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickery AL, Carcangiu ML, Johannessen JV, Sobrinho-Simoes M (1985) Papillary carcinoma. Semin Diagn Pathol 2:90–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahl RA, Goretzki P, Meybier H, Nitschke J, Linder M, Röher HD (1982) Coexistence of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. World J Surg 6:385–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Walfish PG (1985) Single thyroid nodule. In: Krieger DT, Bardin CW (eds) Current therapy in endocrinology and metabolism. Decker, Toronto, p 79

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfstein RS (1978) Enigma of the “hyperfunctioning” thyroid carcinoma resolved? J Nucl Med 19:441–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeo PPB, Wang KW, Sinniah R, Aw TC, Chang CH, Sethi VK, Tan BC, Lim P (1982) Thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer. Aust NZ J Med 12:589–593

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Rosa, G., Testa, A., Maurizi, M. et al. Thyroid carcinoma mimicking a toxic adenoma. Eur J Nucl Med 17, 179–184 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00811447

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00811447

Key words

Navigation