Thyroid hemiagenesis and incidentally discovered papillary thyroid cancer: case report and review of the literature

J Endocrinol Invest. 2005 Jan;28(1):66-71. doi: 10.1007/BF03345532.

Abstract

Thyroid hemiagenesis (TH) is a rare congenital abnormality in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. Its prevalence is uncertain, because the absence of one thyroid lobe does not usually cause clinical symptoms. The detection of TH is usually incidental when the evaluation of other thyroid disorders is requested. It is more frequently found in female than in male patients (3:1 ratio) and in the left lobe compared to the right lobe. We report the case of a 54-yr-old man, presenting with a large multinodular right-sided goiter, with mediastinal extension and dysphagia. Thyroid scan and ultrasound study showed the absence of the left lobe. The patient underwent surgery for compressive symptoms, and the operation confirmed the absence of the left lobe. Histological examination demonstrated a multi-nodular goiter with papillary carcinoma. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported case of association between TH and papillary thyroid carcinoma in a male patient, and the second in which the tumor arose in the right lobe.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology*
  • Deglutition Disorders / complications
  • Goiter / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
  • Thyroid Gland / abnormalities*
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m