A case of concurrent occurrence of carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation and follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer in the same thyroid

Abstract

Abstract Carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare thyroid cancer. This is the first report of a case of concurrent occurrence of CASTLE with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A 66-year-old male patient had hoarseness with right vocal cord paralysis. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic nodule in the inferior pole of the right thyroid lobe. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested differentiated thyroid cancer. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with neck dissection. Pathological examination revealed two different thyroid cancers: a CASTLE and a follicular variant of PTC. Postoperative radiation therapy was performed. The patient was still alive after 5 year following the initial treatment without evidence of recurrence. The oncological management of patients with concurrent occurrence of different thyroid cancers should consider the biological behavior of both tumors.