Thyroglobulin in the washout fluid of lymph-node biopsy: what is its role in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: The clinical evaluation of enlarged local lymph nodes (LNs) is difficult at the beginning and throughout the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Although the examination of samples collected from LNs by fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNAB-C) is extremely specific for the diagnosis of metastases, its sensitivity is low, especially in paucicellular samples. SUMMARY: The measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) washout fluid (FNAB-Tg) increases the diagnostic performance of cytology to up to 100% sensitivity and specificity. However, the application of FNAB-Tg is currently hindered by the absence of methodological standardization, a lack of definite cutoff points, and the ongoing debate regarding its accuracy in nonthyroidectomized patients, those with elevated serum Tg, and those with circulating anti-Tg antibodies. CONCLUSION: FNAB-Tg improves the diagnostic performance of FNAB-C in LN metastases, even when the latter is unable to diagnose the metastases. For that reason, FNAB-Tg should be included in the monitoring of DTC.

[Atypical form of acute suppurative thyroiditis in pediatric patient: case report]. / Forma atípica de tireoidite supurativa aguda em paciente pediátrico: relato de caso.

Acute thyroiditis is an unusual disease. In pediatric patients it is usually associated with congenital abnormalities towards the unilateral envelopment of the left thyroid lobe. In general, in the absence of preexisting thyroid disease, the thyroid function is most often normal. It is here described a case of a six-year-old girl who had presented a mass with flogistic signs in the anterior neck region for fifteen days, together with leukocytosis and increased levels of VSH and TSH. There was no evidence of previous thyroid disease and the cervical ultrasonography suggested thyroid abscess. Intravenous antibiotic and surgical drainage were done with a good response, however, the patient developed clinical hypothyroidism afterwards. Barium swallow did not demonstrate pyriform sinus fistula and the follow-up ultrasonography revealed heterogeneous internal texture suggesting Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The relevance of this case is due to its unusual findings: the absence of congenital abnormalities, bilateral envelopment of thyroid lobes, hypothyroidism and a probable Hashimoto's thyroiditis as a predisposing factor for acute thyroiditis.

Forma atípica de tireoidite supurativa aguda em paciente pediátrico: relato de caso / Atypical form of acute suppurative thyroiditis in pediatric patient: case report

A tireoidite aguda é uma doença rara. Na infância associa-se principalmente a anormalidades congênitas com acometimento do lobo esquerdo. Na ausência de tireoidopatia preexistente, a função tireoidiana geralmente está normal. Relatamos um caso de uma menina, 6 anos de idade, com tumoração associada a sinais flogísticos na região cervical anterior há 15 dias acompanhada de leucocitose com desvio à esquerda, VSH e TSH elevados. Não havia história prévia de tireoidopatia. A ultra-sonografia da região cervical foi sugestiva de abscesso tireoidiano. Realizou-se antibioticoterapia e drenagem cirúrgica com boa resposta, porém posteriormente a paciente evoluiu com hipotireoidismo clínico. O esofagograma não detectou fístula do seio piriforme e a ultra-sonografia controle revelou heterogeneidade do parênquima, levantando-se a possibilidade de tireoidite de Hashimoto. A importância do caso deve-se à sua apresentação incomum: ausência de anormalidades congênitas, acometimento difuso da tireóide, alteração da função tireoidiana e provável tireoidite de Hashimoto como fator predisponente da tireoidite aguda.

Acute thyroiditis is an unusual disease. In pediatric patients it is usually associated with congenital abnormalities towards the unilateral envelopment of the left thyroid lobe. In general, in the absence of preexisting thyroid disease, the thyroid function is most often normal. It is here described a case of a six-year-old girl who had presented a mass with flogistic signs in the anterior neck region for fifteen days, together with leukocytosis and increased levels of VSH and TSH. There was no evidence of previous thyroid disease and the cervical ultrasonography suggested thyroid abscess. Intravenous antibiotic and surgical dranaige were done with a good response, however, the patient developed clinical hypothyroidism aftherwards . Barium swallow did not demonstrate pyriform sinus fistula and the follow-up ultrasonography revealed heterogeneous internal texture suggesting Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. The relevance of this case is due to its unusual findings: the absence of congenital abnormalities, bilateral envelopment of thyroid lobes, hypothyroidism and a probable Hashimoto's Thyroiditis as a predisposing factor for acute thyroiditis.

Adenoma de paratireóide diagnosticado por punção aspirativa por agulha fina: relato de caso / Parathyroid adenoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology: a case report

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente com hiperparatireoidismo primário causado por adenoma de paratireóide diagnosticado através de punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) no pré-operatório. A paratireóide aumentada foi visualizada pela ultra-sonografia (US) e submetida à PAAF, que foi compatível com adenoma de paratireóide. Realizou-se a remoção cirúrgica do adenoma e o histopatológico resultou concordante com a citologia. Este relato destaca a importância da localização e do diagnóstico citológico pré-operatório das lesões de paratireóide para proporcionar uma abordagem cirúrgica menos agressiva.

The authors report a patients case with primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid adenoma that was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the preoperative. The increased parathyroid was visualized by the ultrasonography and submitted to FNAC that was compatible with parathyroid adenoma. The surgical removal of adenoma was accomplished and the histopathologic was concordant with the cytology. This report detaches the importance of the location and preoperative cytological diagnosis of the parathyroid lesions in providing a less aggressive surgical approach.