Li JL, Cheng C, Zhang P, Fan J, Zhang L, Zhu LR, Tao KX, Cai M. Rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma: A case report and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(2): 115179 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i2.115179]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ming Cai, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. caiming918@hust.edu.cn
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Case Report
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 15, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 3, 2026
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World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
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Li JL, Cheng C, Zhang P, Fan J, Zhang L, Zhu LR, Tao KX, Cai M. Rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma: A case report and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(2): 115179 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i2.115179]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Feb 15, 2026; 18(2): 115179 Published online Feb 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i2.115179
Rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma: A case report and review of literature
Jia-Liang Li, Chao Cheng, Pei Zhang, Jun Fan, Lan Zhang, Liang-Ru Zhu, Kai-Xiong Tao, Ming Cai
Jia-Liang Li, Chao Cheng, Pei Zhang, Kai-Xiong Tao, Ming Cai, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Jun Fan, Department of Pathology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Lan Zhang, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Liang-Ru Zhu, Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Li JL searched for relevant literature and drafted the manuscript; Li JL, Cheng C, and Zhan P performed the follow-up of the patient, obtained the post-discharge record from the patient, and analyzed patient data; Fan J performed the pathology examinations; Fan J, Zhang L, and Zhu LR prepared the figures; Zhang L performed the pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography; Zhu LR performed the colonoscopy; Tao KX and Cai M developed the treatment plan for the patient, collected the clinical history, and checked and confirmed the authenticity of all the raw data; Cai M conceived the idea and contributed to supervision. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ming Cai, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. caiming918@hust.edu.cn
Received: October 20, 2025 Revised: November 18, 2025 Accepted: December 19, 2025 Published online: February 15, 2026 Processing time: 107 Days and 21.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is the second most common subtype of thyroid malignancy, with distant metastases most often to the bones, lungs, brain, and liver, and only rarely to other sites. Rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma is a rare condition characterized by infiltration of FTC within the rectal wall. There are almost no literature reports.
CASE SUMMARY
We report a case of rectal thyroid-like follicular carcinoma in a 61-year-old woman. The patient presented with intermittent rectal bleeding, and a colonoscopy revealed a mass in the mid-rectum. She underwent laparoscopic resection of the lesion, and was diagnosed with rectal thyroid-like follicular carcinoma by postoperative pathology. After a laparoscopic partial rectal resection, she was discharged on postoperative day 7. At 6 months postoperatively, the patient was still alive.
CONCLUSION
Rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma may arise from malignant struma ovarii, highlighting the need to consider ovarian origins in atypical metastases of FTC.
Core Tip: We report a rare case of rectal follicular thyroid-like carcinoma. This case highlights the necessity of including an ovarian origin in the differential diagnosis when encountering metastases of follicular thyroid carcinoma in atypical locations. Our findings aim to serve as a useful reference for clinicians in the diagnosis and management of similar cases in the future.
