Complete resection of ulcerating, infiltrative, voluminous differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

An 87-year-old woman was referred to our department for a 15 cm right-sided cervical tumor with bleeding and skin ulceration, developed on a 6 cm papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed two years earlier. Surprisingly, there were no other compressive symptoms. Unexpectedly, but successfully, total thyroidectomy and neck dissection were performed. There were no poorly differentiated or anaplasti c components in the final histological analysis. Impressive dehiscence occurred shortly after surgery and was also successfully managed. Our case highlights the benefit of co nsidering surgery in the context of a tertiary care center even for an apparent massive aggressive cervical mass and despite old age.

Keywords

• differentiated thyroid carcinoma
• total thyroidectomy
• surgical resection
• multiple histological subtypes