Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma accounts for approximately 5-10% of all thyroid carcinomas. It appears more frequently at ages 25-60 years and in females. Two types are distinguished: sporadic (nonhereditary) and familial (hereditary). The most common location is the union of the upper third of the thyroid lobe to the middle third, the area with the highest concentration of C cells.

Objective: To present the case of a male patient operated on for medullary thyroid carcinoma, of sporadic type, in the Cienfuegos Province.

Clinical case: A 60-year-old male patient of white skin attended consultation. He reported an increase in neck volume accompanied by dysphonia and dysphagia for solid food. The physical examination revealed the presence of the thyroid nodule. Ultrasound was performed, which confirmed the presence of a nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid. Fine needle aspiration biopsy reported the nodule as suspicious for malignancy. A total thyroidectomy was performed, after which, paraffin biopsy of the specimen permitted to report a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. At present, he has been operating for six months, with favorable evolution.

Conclusions: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare and aggressive entity, more frequent in patients over 45 years of age, whose treatment of choice is surgery.

Keywords: medullary thyroid carcinoma; sporadic and familial varieties; suspected for neoplastic cells; total thyroidectomy.