Endocrinol Metab.  2011 Dec;26(4):330-334. 10.3803/EnM.2011.26.4.330.

Four Cases of Malignant Pleural Effusion in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Jeon MJ
• Yim JH
• Kim EY
• Kim WG
• Kim TY
• Kim WB
• Shong YK

• KMID: 2169264
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2011.26.4.330

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma could be a rare cause of malignant pleural effusion. The development of malignant pleural effusion in patients with papillary thyroid cancer is an extremely adverse prognostic indicator. Here, we report four cases that showed development of malignant pleural effusion during the clinical course of the papillary thyroid carcinoma and consider the prognosis. In four patients, the median survival time after the development of malignant pleural effusion was only 17 months.

Keyword

Malignant pleural effusion; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma
Humans
Pleural Effusion, Malignant
Prognosis
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Pleural fluid cytology of patient 1, which shows papillary structure of columnar cells (× 400).

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  Fig. 2 There were no malignant cells in pleural fluid cytology of patient 2 (× 200).

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  Fig. 3 Computed tomography of chest (patient 3). A. Large amount of right pleural fluid, multiple pleural and lung nodules were noted. B. There was 4 cm right paravertebral mass with internal hemorrhage and it was also regarded as pleural metastatic nodule. The patient underwent prophylactic radiation therapy to the mass.

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