Korean J Med.  2017 Feb;92(1):103-107. 10.3904/kjm.2017.92.1.103.

Co-existent Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Papillary Thyroid Cancer in a Patient with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

• Koo DW
• Lee SG
• Park EK
• Park JH
• Lee KM

• KMID: 2376954
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2017.92.1.103

Abstract

A 40-year-old female previously diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis was referred to the hospital complaining of muscle weakness, arthralgia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and thick skin. After work-up, she was diagnosed with both mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), based on the Alarcon-Segovia criteria and pathological examination, respectively. High-dose glucocorticoid and azathioprine were introduced to treat active myositis of MCTD, and total thyroidectomy was performed to treat PTC. This report highlights the possible association between MCTD and thyroid cancer, and suggests that MCTD is associated with PTC, similar to other autoimmune diseases including Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Keyword

Mixed connective tissue disease; Thyroid neoplasms; Liver cirrhosis, Biliary; Myositis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arthralgia
Autoimmune Diseases
Azathioprine
Female
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary*
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease*
Muscle Weakness
Myositis
Scleroderma, Systemic
Skin
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms*
Thyroidectomy
Azathioprine