Gong QS, Liu XW, Luo XP, Xu N. Imaging features of synchronous bilateral primary tumors of oncocytic thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report. World J Radiol 2026; 18(10): 126932 [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.126932]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nan Xu, MD, Department of Thyroid Surgery, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, No. 1017 Dongmenbeilu, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China. xu.nan@szhospital.com
Research Domain of This Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
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case-report
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Gong QS, Liu XW, Luo XP, Xu N. Imaging features of synchronous bilateral primary tumors of oncocytic thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report. World J Radiol 2026; 18(10): 126932 [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.126932]
World J Radiol. Oct 28, 2026; 18(10): 126932 Published online Oct 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.126932
Imaging features of synchronous bilateral primary tumors of oncocytic thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report
Qi-Shu Gong, Xiao-Wen Liu, Xun-Peng Luo, Nan Xu
Qi-Shu Gong, Xun-Peng Luo, Nan Xu, Department of Thyroid Surgery, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China
Xiao-Wen Liu, Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Gong QS conceptualized and designed the case report, and drafted and revised the initial manuscript; Liu XW assessed the imaging data; Luo XP participated in clinical and intellectual discussions related to the article; Xu N contributed to the supervision and writing, review, and editing of the manuscript; and all authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: This manuscript was not edited using any AI tool. The authors take full responsibility for the scientific content of the manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
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).
Corresponding author: Nan Xu, MD, Department of Thyroid Surgery, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, No. 1017 Dongmenbeilu, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China. xu.nan@szhospital.com
Received: August 17, 2026 Revised: September 13, 2026 Accepted: October 12, 2026 Published online: October 28, 2026 Processing time: 72 Days and 16.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Oncocytic thyroid carcinoma (OTC), previously known as Hürthle cell carcinoma, is a distinct subtype of differentiated thyroid cancer accounting for approximately 5% of all thyroid malignancies. Synchronous thyroid tumors are extremely rare, accounting < 1% of all thyroid tumors.
CASE SUMMARY
We report a 38-year-old female with synchronous OTC in the left lobe and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the right lobe, who had a history of thyroid nodules for 8 years. Ultrasound showed that the OTC was a large, hypoechoic, solid nodule with regular margins and internal vascularity. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed a heterogeneous, well-circumscribed enhancing mass extruding the thyroid boundary, with no cervical lymph node enlargement in the left lateral compartment. The right-lobe PTC was an ill-circumscribed node with spot calcification and internal nonuniform enhancement. It was smaller than the left-lobe OTC, and enlarged lymph nodes in the right lateral cervical compartment were identified. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of synchronous minimally invasive left-lobe OTC right-lobe PTC, with right lateral neck compartment lymph node metastasis.
CONCLUSION
This case highlights the importance of recognizing imaging features of coexisting PTC and OTC for preoperative evaluation and surgical management.
Core Tip: Acknowledgement of the imaging features of coexisting common papillary thyroid carcinoma and rare oncocytic thyroid carcinoma to guide appropriate preoperative evaluation and surgical management.
