[Right non recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery: one case report]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Thyroid nodules are common, but distinguishing benign from malignant ones requires careful evaluation.
• Painless cervical masses can present as the initial symptom of thyroid cancer.

Observation:

• A 56-year-old female presented with a painless, mobile cervical mass, approximately 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm, located above the left lobe of the thyroid gland.
• B-mode ultrasound revealed a solid mass in the left thyroid lobe (3.2 cm) and an isthmic nodule, with associated left neck lymphadenopathy suggestive of metastatic disease.
• Thyroid function tests (fT3, fT4, TSH) and antibody levels (anti-TG, anti-TPO) were within normal or mildly elevated ranges, not definitively indicating malignancy.

Findings:

• Pathological examination confirmed the neoplasm as papillary carcinoma.
• The clinical diagnosis was papillary thyroid carcinoma, based on the combined clinical, ultrasound, and pathological findings.

Implications:

• Early diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
• This case underscores the necessity of thorough diagnostic workup for cervical masses, including ultrasound and pathological examination, to rule out thyroid malignancy.