Unusual case of medullary thyroid cancer

Abstract

Medullary thyroid carcinomas make up 9,4% of all cancers of the thyroid gland [1]. We can divide them into sporadic and familial form. Sporadic forms are most common. The rest of medullary thyroid carcinomas are familial forms which in most cases are associated with MEN2a and MEN2b syndromes. If neoplasm is associated with MEN2a or MEN2b syndromes, other tumors can occur: pheochromocytoma or adenomas of parathyroids glands. Medullary thyroid carcinoma typically occurs as a solid tumor in the thyroid region of the neck. It can produce also: pain in thyroid region, dysphagia, hoarseness, cervical lymphadenopathy. These symptoms are caused by infiltration of adjacent tissues by neoplasm and by metastases to cervical lymph nodes. It is very rare that there is no tumor in the thyroid region, when a patient complains about signs associated with infiltration of the tumor, but in some cases lymphadenopathy can be the first sign of medullary thyroid carcinoma [2]. Rarer than that there is no tumor in thyroid gland visualized in CT scans when there are signs of cervical lymphadenopathy. In this case report we present the patient with metastases of the medullary thyroid carcinoma to the neck and no other findings in physical examination and additional testing.