Carcinoma of thyroid associated with other primary malignant tumors

Abstract

This paper deals with patients who have both a primary thyroid cancer and a primary malignant tumor of another organ. Fourteen such cases were in the authors' material and 165 cases reported by others are reviewed. The pattern of the tumors associated with thyroid cancer corresponds to the reported frequency of neoplasms of various sites, with the exception that there is an excessive number of cases of leukemia. These may be related to radio‐iodine therapy for the thyroid cancer. If a patient has a cancer and then develops a malignant nodule in the thyroid, this is much more likely to represent a metastasis than a second primary neoplasm; however, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate between the 2 on clinical grounds. Usually, metastatic cancer to the thyroid gland is a late manifestation of tumor dissemination but occasionally it may appear early. In such cases, it may be necessary to explore the neck to determine whether the lesion is a second primary or a metastasis.

In situ breast carcinoma after treatment during adolescence for thyroid cancer with radioiodine

“…The acute complications of radioiodine therapy include nausea, vomiting, myelosuppression and sialoadenitis with occasional permanent alteration in the quantity and quality of saliva, leading to an increased frequency of tooth decay [25] have been reported following radioiodine therapy for thyroid carcinoma. A variety of other carcinomas have been reported in patients treated as adults for thyroid carcinoma, but the relationship, if any, between radioiodine exposure and the occurrence of these malignancies has not been detailed [26,27]. There have been no reports of breast carcinoma following treatment during adolescence for thyroid cancer with radioiodine.…”

Plasma cell neoplasm involving the thyroid

“…41 plasm of the thyroid, present with painless, nontender, nontoxic goiter of usually recent onset and clinical presentation is not different from other primary or secondary malignancies of this gland. 1*, 19 Diagnosis of plasma cell neoplasm is made only after histological examination of the thyroid. Radiation therapy followed surgery in some cases.…”