Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) arises from the parafollicular cells of the thyroid and occurs in a sporadic or in an inherited form. We present a case of an aberrant MTC in a patient with a functioning thyroid gland. At surgical dissection, the thyroid was present in its anatomical site with a nodule in the upper one third of the right lobe. A mass was also found in a lateral-cervical position distinct from the thyroid gland. Histological examination showed the mass to be the primary MTC, whereas the thyroid nodule was a follicular adenoma. Analysis of DNA extracted from the MTC, from the adenoma, and from peripheral blood revealed a mutation within exon 16 of the RET proto-oncogene only in the DNA from the tumor. The reported case represents a sporadic MTC in an aberrant localization, probably originating from a developmental abnormality of the primordial C cells. This event might have occurred during the migration and/or differentiation of the C cells and might be related to, or caused by, the mutated RET proto-oncogene.
A primary, lateral-cervical medullary thyroid carcinoma: a case report / Santini, L; Scurini, C; Caracò, C; Conzo, G; Orabona, P; DE ROSA, Gaetano; Fattoruso, O; Colantuoni, V.. - In: THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. - ISSN 0021-972X. - STAMPA. - 81:(1996), pp. 1784-1786.
A primary, lateral-cervical medullary thyroid carcinoma: a case report
DE ROSA, GAETANO;
1996
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) arises from the parafollicular cells of the thyroid and occurs in a sporadic or in an inherited form. We present a case of an aberrant MTC in a patient with a functioning thyroid gland. At surgical dissection, the thyroid was present in its anatomical site with a nodule in the upper one third of the right lobe. A mass was also found in a lateral-cervical position distinct from the thyroid gland. Histological examination showed the mass to be the primary MTC, whereas the thyroid nodule was a follicular adenoma. Analysis of DNA extracted from the MTC, from the adenoma, and from peripheral blood revealed a mutation within exon 16 of the RET proto-oncogene only in the DNA from the tumor. The reported case represents a sporadic MTC in an aberrant localization, probably originating from a developmental abnormality of the primordial C cells. This event might have occurred during the migration and/or differentiation of the C cells and might be related to, or caused by, the mutated RET proto-oncogene.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
