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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 18;26(4):429.
doi: 10.3892/ol.2023.14015. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Mixed medullary‑follicular thyroid carcinoma: A case report and literature review

Yonghui Wang  1 , Dandan Yin  2 , Guifang Ren  3 , Zhengjiang Wang  2 , Fanhua Kong  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Mixed medullary‑follicular thyroid carcinoma: A case report and literature review

Yonghui Wang et al. Oncol Lett. .

Abstract

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) originate from follicular and neuroendocrine parafollicular C cells, respectively. PTC and MTC simultaneously exist in tumors containing both MTC and PTC features in a rare condition known as mixed medullary-follicular thyroid carcinoma (MMFTC). In the present study, a 60-year-old female presented with a small mass on the left side of the neck. Ultrasonography indicated a hyperechoic nodule measuring ~11.9×9.7 mm2 in the left lobe of the thyroid gland. The preoperative calcitonin serum value was elevated and total thyroidectomy and bilateral central compartment lymph node dissection was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor demonstrated MMFTC. No metastasis was observed in lymph nodes isolated from the bilateral central compartment. Given the rarity of MMFTC, enhancing understanding and management of such tumors is crucial.

Keywords: case report; follicular; medullary; papillary; thyroid cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Ultrasonography and CT images of the thyroid nodule. (A) Ultrasonography revealed a hyperechoic nodule in the left lobe of the thyroid gland. (B) CT images demonstrated a solid nodule in the left lobe of the thyroid gland. CT, computed tomography.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Gross and microscopic presentation of the lesion. (A) Tumor located in the left lobe of the thyroid gland was 15.2×12.1 mm. (B) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumor demonstrated two types of cancer which were joined. Medullary thyroid cancer (*) was immediately adjacent to the papillary thyroid cancer (#). Magnification, ×100.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor. Immunohistochemical staining of MTC component of the tumor for (A) calcitonin, (B) CEA, (C) TTF-1 and (D) thyroglobulin. Immunohistochemical staining of PTC component of the tumor for (E) calcitonin, (F) CEA, (G) TTF-1 and (H) thyroglobulin. Magnification, ×200. MTC, medullary thyroid cancer; PTC, papillary thyroid cancer; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; TFF-1, thyroid transcription factor 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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