Research
Parathyroid involvement in thyroid cancer: an unforeseen event
1 Department of Endocrinology & Endocrine Oncology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, 2 Al Simeonidi street, Thessaloniki, 54007, Greece
2 Pathology Department, General Hospital of Kavala, 65302, Kavala, Greece
3 Pathology Department, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2012, 10:121 doi:10.1186/1477-7819-10-121
Published: 28 June 2012Abstract
Background
Parathyroid metastatic disease from thyroid cancer has not been studied extensively, mainly due to the need for parathyroid preservation during thyroid surgery.
Methods
We reviewed files from 1,770 patients with thyroid cancer followed up in our department and 10 patients with parathyroid metastases (0.5%) were identified. Patient and tumor characteristics were recorded.
Results
Six out of ten patients had metastases from papillary thyroid cancer, three from follicular thyroid cancer and one from anaplastic thyroid cancer. In nine patients parathyroid infiltration from thyroid cancer was found in direct contact with the thyroid cancer, and in one patient metastatic foci were observed not in continuity with the thyroid cancer.
Conclusions
Parathyroid involvement, although infrequent, may occur in thyroid cancer independently of patient age and tumor size. The clinical significance of such event is not clear. The influence on disease outcome remains to be elucidated.
