Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2013 Aug;56(8):522-524. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.8.522.

Two Cases of Charcoal Injection in Recurrent Microcarcinoma of Thyroid Bed after Total Thyroidectomy

• Han SY
• Yeo CK

• KMID: 1475774
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.8.522

Abstract

Ultrasonograms and thyroglobulin measurements have high sensitivity for evaluation of recurrent thyroid cancer and they allow early detection of recurrent or residual thyroid tumors. Patients treated for thyroid cancer can show recurrent or residual tumors in 5-40% of cases. Radioiodine therapy and surgical excision are effective for recurrent or residual thyroid tumors, but up to 30% of tumors will not reveal iodine uptake, and need further observation or surgical excision. Clinically, patients choose surgical excision rather than observation. During reoperation, the risk of surgical complications is increased because of fibrosis, neovascularization, and modified anatomical relationships. In the past, surgeons have occasionally used methylene blue during reoperation but it tends to spread into the surrounding tissues. Recently, charcoal injection has been used for recurrent thyroid microcarcinoma. The authors successfully used charcoal injection for the removal of tumor in two cases of recurrent microcarcinoma of the thyroid bed after total thyroidectomy.

Keyword

Charcoal; Thyroid cancer; Thyroidectomy

MeSH Terms

Charcoal
Fibrosis
Humans
Iodine
Methylene Blue
Neoplasm, Residual
Reoperation
Thyroglobulin
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroidectomy
Charcoal
Iodine
Methylene Blue
Thyroglobulin