International Journal of Thyroidology  2016;9(1):47-50

doi:10.11106/ijt.2016.9.1.47

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Presented as a Hot Nodule with Hyperthyroidism.

Sung Hye KONG 1 ; Seo Young LEE ; Ye Seul YANG ; Jae Hoon MOON

Affiliations

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Keywords

Hyperfunctioning nodule; Thyroid cancer; Radionuclide imaging; Ultrasonography

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

We report a case of a 74-year-old woman who was incidentally found to have a single thyroid nodule. Laboratory evaluation showed undetectable serum thyroid stimulating hormone and elevated free thyroxine levels. (99m)Tc thyroid scan showed a hyperfunctioning autonomous nodule in a right lobe of the thyroid. Thyroid ultrasonography showed a 2.2 cm sized nonhomogeneous spiculated nodule with microcalcification, and which was identical with the hyperfunctioning nodule confirmed in thyroid scan by (99m)Tc single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography. Fine needle aspiration was done, and cytology reported as suspicious of malignancy. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, and pathology was consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma. This case report demonstrates that diagnosis of a hyperfunctioning autonomous thyroid nodule does not preclude the possibility of thyroid cancer. Clinicians should consider further evaluation such as ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration in patients with hyperfunctioning autonomous nodules.