Cutaneous tumour seeding following percutaneous sampling of a thyroid malignancy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy are crucial for diagnosing neck lumps.
• Thyroid malignancies require accurate preoperative diagnosis for appropriate management.
• Potential complications of invasive diagnostic procedures must be considered.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of cutaneous tumour seeding after core biopsy of a thyroid malignancy.
• To review the literature on the risks associated with FNA and core biopsy for neck lumps.
• To emphasize the importance of diagnostic procedures in evaluating thyroid cancer.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 75-year-old woman with a thyroid malignancy.
• Review of literature on FNA and core biopsy risks in neck lump diagnosis.
• Histopathological examination of biopsy and surgical specimens.

Main Results:

• A superficial nodule at the core biopsy site was found to contain poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma.
• The tumour cells were identical to the primary thyroid malignancy.
• Initial FNA and core biopsy were challenging due to necrosis and limited cells, delaying definitive diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Cutaneous tumour seeding is a rare but significant risk following core biopsy of thyroid cancer.
• Ultrasound-guided sampling remains an essential diagnostic tool with high accuracy and patient acceptance.
• Awareness of potential complications is vital for patient safety and management.