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O'Sullivan MD, McAnena KS, Egan C, et al. Enlarging neck masses in the elderly - Histological and surgical considerations. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2013;4(4):378-81doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012.
O'Sullivan, M. D., McAnena, K. S., Egan, C., Waters, P. S., McCann, P. J., & Kerin, M. J. (2013). Enlarging neck masses in the elderly - Histological and surgical considerations. International journal of surgery case reports, 4(4), 378-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012
O'Sullivan, M D, et al. "Enlarging neck masses in the elderly - Histological and surgical considerations." International journal of surgery case reports vol. 4,4 (2013): 378-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012
O'Sullivan MD, McAnena KS, Egan C, Waters PS, McCann PJ, Kerin MJ. Enlarging neck masses in the elderly - Histological and surgical considerations. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2013;4(4):378-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012. Epub 2013 Jan 17. PMID: 23500736; PMCID: PMC3604668.
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Int J Surg Case Rep. 2013;4(4):378-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

Enlarging neck masses in the elderly - Histological and surgical considerations.

International journal of surgery case reports

M D O'Sullivan, K S McAnena, C Egan, P S Waters, P J McCann, M J Kerin

Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Surgery, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.

PMID: 23500736 PMCID: PMC3604668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.12.012

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare but aggressive malignancy which can present with a rapidly enlarging neck mass or compressive sequelae of cough, dyspnoea, dysphagia and hoarseness. Treatment of such tumours is commonly palliative however they occasionally represent surgical challenges due to their rapid growth, diagnostic difficulty and locoregional spread.

PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 75 year-old retired veterinary surgeon was referred with a 2 month history of a painless, enlarging neck mass. The patient denied any secondary compressive symptoms or general symptoms of malignancy. On examination a large right-sided neck mass measuring 7cm×5cm was appreciated which was fixed, hard and irregular with associated adenopathy.

DISCUSSION: We discuss the diagnostic challenges posed by anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid and the difficulties in selecting the appropriate intervention in this aggressive disease process.

CONCLUSION: Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is encountered infrequently in clinical practice and can generate diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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