The medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is relatively rare tumor, accounting about 5-10% of the all thyroid malignancies, which arises from the parafollicular cells in thyroid gland. The lesion may occur sporadically or as a familial disease inherited in a Mendelian dominant -pattern. The inheritant form_ is often associated with pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism (Sipple´s syndrome). The, patient usually presents with a mass in the neck area, with cervical adenopathy .and often with diarrhea. Medullary thyroid carcinoma has a prodigious
biochemical-activity and production such as ACTH; prostaglandins, serotonin, calcitonin and histaminase The tumor is a solid and produce myloid like material The prognosis of the tumor is worse than papillary, and follicular thyroid carcinoma, but much better than anaplastic carcinoma. The treatment of the tumor is. primarily surgical.
A recently.. discovered immunoassay for calcitonin offers a good screening test for presence of the tumor and mesurements of histaminase activity-may, provide essential prognostic informat-ion, especially in the postoperative follow ups.
We. experienced a ease developed- of medullary carcinoma´ of the thyroid gland in 57 years
old male, who had beena slowly growing egg-sized mass in the anterior neck since, 5 months ago -without, other symptoms such as diarrhea, flushing, and hypertension etc.
Thyroid ´scan showed cold area of 5X7 cm in size in the right lower portion and uptake test was normal., Under the diagnosis of malignant thyroid tumor by frozen section, at the time of ope ration, right radical neck dissection with right thyroid lobectomy was done. During operation, adult fist sized nodular, mass arising .from the lower portion of right thyroid, which extending: into the upper mediastinum. was recongnized. Histologically, the thyroid mass was composed of long spindle, highly cellular mass, occasionally showing bundles and mottled hemorrhagic and necrotic-area. Numerous normal or abnormal mitosis and frequent tumor giant cells were found. Aniyloid,material was present surrounding the tumor cells.
General conception on of medullar carcinoma of thyroid gland and brief review of literatures,were reported Herein.
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