# Collision thyroid tumors: a case report of coexisting papillary and follicular carcinoma

**Authors:** Danilo Estuardo Torselli-Valladares, Víctor Argueta, Carlos Rene Cordón, Marco Antonio Peñalonzo

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjaf1106 · Journal of Surgical Case Reports · 2026-01-20

## TL;DR

A rare case of a thyroid tumor containing both papillary and follicular carcinoma is reported in a 73-year-old woman.

## Contribution

This case adds to the limited literature on collision thyroid tumors involving papillary and follicular carcinoma.

## Key findings

- The patient had a thyroid nodule classified as Bethesda IV via fine-needle aspiration.
- Histopathology confirmed coexisting papillary and minimally invasive follicular carcinoma.
- The tumors were anatomically distinct and separated by normal thyroid tissue.

## Abstract

Collision tumors of the thyroid gland are defined by the coexistence of two or more histologically and morphologically distinct neoplasms, separated by normal thyroid tissue. This phenomenon is rare, with the most frequently reported combination being the coexistence of medullary carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. This case reports a 73-year-old female patient with an asymptomatic thyroid nodule. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a solid, isoechoic, well-defined nodule with a halo and peripheral vascularization, measuring 4.3 × 2.5 cm in the left lobe. Fine-needle aspiration cytology classified the nodule as Bethesda IV (follicular tumor). Following total thyroidectomy, histopathological analysis identified papillary carcinoma in the isthmus and minimally invasive follicular carcinoma in the left lobe.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** papillary carcinoma (MONDO:0006509), follicular carcinoma (MONDO:0005034)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** papillary and follicular carcinoma (MESH:D018265), follicular carcinoma (MESH:D018263), medullary carcinoma (MESH:D018276), Collision thyroid tumors (MESH:D013964), thyroid nodule (MESH:D016606), papillary carcinoma (MESH:D002291), follicular tumor (MESH:D009369)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12818003/full.md

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12818003/full.md

## References

11 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12818003/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12818003