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Thyroid carcinoma with discharging sinus -- a rarity: a case report
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Gokula Curie Cancer Centre, M, S, Ramaiah Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore, India. drkhari@yahoo.com
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|February 28, 2008
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma presenting with skin ulceration and a discharging sinus. Aggressive surgery is recommended for locally advanced thyroid cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma rarely presents with isolated skin involvement.
- Thyroid carcinoma with a discharging sinus has not been previously reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a unique case of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma with skin ulceration and a discharging sinus.
- To highlight the importance of aggressive surgical management for advanced thyroid cancer.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 62-year-old male patient.
- Detailed history of thyroid swelling, neck node metastasis, and ulceration with a discharging sinus.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with a long-standing thyroid swelling that metastasized to neck nodes and ulcerated, forming a discharging sinus.
- The patient remained alive two years post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Extrathyroidal extension occurs in 4-16% of well-differentiated thyroid cancers.
- This case represents a unique presentation of thyroid cancer with a discharging sinus.
- Aggressive surgery is crucial for managing locally advanced thyroid cancer.
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