Axillary lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma: A case report

Abstract

<strong><em>Introduction:</em></strong><br /> Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is an uncommon neoplasm originating from parafollicular C cells. Distant metastasis in MTC, such as axillary node involvement, is extremely rare.<br /> <strong> </strong><strong><em>Case Report:</em></strong><br /> The present study describes a known case of MTC with axillary lymph node metastasis in a 31-year-old woman. In 2010, she underwent total thyroidectomy and right-sided modified radical neck dissection. In May 2015, she was referred with a 3-month history of a mass in the left axilla. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) confirmed MTC in the axillary nodes. Left axillary lymph node dissection was performed and postoperative histopathology revealed metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma in prepared specimens.<br /> <strong> </strong><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong><br /> MTC with axillary lymph node metastasis is a rare condition which has been reported in previous studies to impair patient prognosis. However, in the current case, the patient had no other MTC-related complications subsequent to final lymphadenectomy.