Papillary thyroid carcinoma: an interesting case report

TL;DR

This case report describes an 18-year-old female diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, a common thyroid cancer that often spreads to lymph nodes.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a rare case of early-onset papillary thyroid carcinoma in a young female.

Findings

Papillary thyroid carcinoma was confirmed through histopathology in an 18-year-old patient.

The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, lymphadenectomy, and radioactive iodine ablation.

Early diagnosis and thorough evaluation are emphasized for thyroid cancers with possible familial links.

Abstract

The most common neoplasm is thyroid carcinoma, which can be categorized into papillary, follicular, medullary, undifferentiated, and anaplastic cancers based on histological features (ATC). Papillary thyroid carcinoma accounts for 70-80% of thyroid cancer cases and 1% of all malignancies. This disease entity is notorious for spreading to nearby lymph nodes, especially the cervical lymph nodes, and may manifest as a developing mass on the side of the neck. However, because of the palpable mass, these lesions usually become apparent and are detected quickly. We are reporting a case of an 18-year-old female, who presented with midline neck swelling. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed on histopathology. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with lymphadenectomy followed by therapeutic radioactive iodine ablation and received T4 suppression treatment. The patient was advised to have regular follow-ups with other systemic examinations. Due to various forms of thyroid carcinoma that raise suspicion of a possible familial cancer, early diagnosis, and thorough evaluation are required.

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