Metastatic Melanoma Mimicking a Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid in Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Case Report.
- Author:
Young Ok HONG
1
;
Jae Hee SUH
;
Hee Jeong CHA
;
Hye Jeong CHOI
;
Young Min KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. ymkpath@uuh.ulsan.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Malignant melanoma;
Thyroid gland;
Metastasis
- MeSH:
Aged;
Biopsy;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*;
Carcinoma, Papillary*;
Diagnosis;
Female;
Humans;
Liver;
Melanoma*;
Nasal Cavity;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Physical Examination;
Skin;
Thyroid Gland*;
Thyroid Neoplasms;
Thyroid Nodule
- From:Korean Journal of Cytopathology
2007;18(2):161-164
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Metastasis to the thyroid gland is very rare in clinical practice. We recently encountered a 65-year-old woman who presented with a large thyroid nodule that mimicked the cytologic features of a papillary thyroid carcinoma on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Although initially diagnosed as a papillary thyroid carcinoma, a thorough clinical work-up revealed multiple lesions in the bones, liver, and nasal cavity, which were confirmed as metastases of a malignant melanoma. Despite a thorough physical examination, however, the primary skin lesion could not be identified. Although FNAB shows a high degree of accuracy in diagnosing primary thyroid tumors, it is less accurate in diagnosing metastases to the thyroid gland. A thorough clinical history with appropriate immunohistochemical staining assays is necessary for the accurate diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma.
