The global incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, and metastatic spread to the lymph nodes is common in papillary thyroid carcinoma. The metastatic course of thyroid carcinoma is an intricate process involving invasion, angiogenesis, cell trafficking, extravasation, organ specific homing, and growth. A key aspect in this process involves a multitude of interactions between chemokines and their receptors. Chemokines are a group of small proteins, which act to elicit normal physiologic and immune responses principally through recruitment of specific cell populations to the site of infection or malignancy. Thyroid cancer cells, like other tumors, possess the ability to corrupt the chemokine system to their advantage by altering cell movement into the tumor microenvironment and affecting all aspects of thyroid cancer progression.

We present a rare case of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) secondary to a deep lobe parotid pleomorphic adenoma and discuss its management, including the need for a thorough examination and multidisciplinary approach. Only a few cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the deep lobe of the parotid gland causing OSA have been reported. Our case is not only extremely rare but also highlights that key diagnoses maybe missed if a thorough assessment is not performed.

Background The 2014 British Thyroid Association thyroid cancer guidelines recommend lifelong follow‐up of all thyroid cancer patients. This is probably unnecessary, particularly for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with an excellent response to treatment and places significant demand on health service resources. Design Single centre retrospective cohort analysis of patients diagnosed and treated at the Leeds Cancer Centre between 2001 and 2014. Patients A total of 756 patients were dynamically risk‐stratified (DRS) as having ‘excellent response to treatment’ after total thyroidectomy and radioiodineremnant ablation (RRA) for DTC. Results Median follow‐up was 11.2 (range: 6.5–18.5) years. Radiological recurrence occurred in 15/756 (2.0%) patients and was always preceded by a raised thyroglobulin or thyroglobulin antibody level. The vast majority of tumour recurrences (13/15, 85%) were identifiable within 5 years of diagnostic surgery. Patients classified as having high‐risk disease as per American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines had an almost threefold higher recurrence rate (2/34 [5.9%] vs. 13/722 [1.8%]) than those with ATA low‐risk or intermediate‐risk disease. Tumour histology subtype was a significant contributing factor, with Hürthle cell cancer having a worse prognosis than papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) (5/68 [7.4%] vs. 9/582 [1.5%]; relative risk: 4.76 [95% confidence interval: 1.64–13.8]). Conclusions The recurrence rate of DRS patients with excellent response to treatment is low. It is reasonable to consider discharge of ATA low‐risk or intermediate‐risk patients with PTC who remain disease‐free after 5 years of secondary care follow‐up. Lifelong follow‐up, however, currently remains the standard for subgroups at greater risk.

Background Isolated sphenoid sinus disease (ISSD) is a rare, often misdiagnosed condition of the paranasal sinus. If left untreated, it can lead to complications involving pituitary gland, cavernous sinus, neurologic, and vascular structures nearby. Case report We present a case of a 60-year-old female with a history of severe left-sided headache, facial pain, diplopia, and left lateral rectus palsy. She was initially referred to ophthalmology and rheumatology for possible giant cell arteritis. MRI scans revealed opacification in left sphenoid sinus consistent with left sphenoid sinusitis. There were no signs of cavernous sinus thrombosis. She was then referred to ENT and underwent endoscopic transnasal sphenoidotomy procedure. Culture results showed Haemophilus Influenza and fungal pseudohyphae. Her palsy and headaches recovered completely 3 months later with a course of antibiotics and antifungals. Literature review for lateral rectus palsy secondary to sphenoid sinusitis without cavernous sinus thrombosis showed it is not a common condition and this case report should serve as a reminder to consider paranasal sinus disease when assessing these patients. Conclusions The onset of ISSD is often insidious and diagnosis of this condition remains a challenge. MRI and CT imaging remain the gold standard for recognising and managing this condition.

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