Published online Jan 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i1.218
Peer-review started: July 28, 2020
First decision: November 3, 2020
Revised: November 5, 2020
Accepted: November 21, 2020
Article in press: November 21, 2020
Published online: January 6, 2021
Processing time: 157 Days and 7.9 Hours
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has good prognosis so that the local recurrence or distant metastasis can occur later on the lifetime follow up. In this study, we report recurrence of PTC in subcutaneous area combined with lymph node metastasis. A suspicion of needle tract implantation after core needle biopsy was found.
A 66-year-old female patients who underwent right thyroid lobectomy for PTC complained of palpable nodule on anterior neck area. The location of the palpable nodule was not associated with her postoperative scar. After excision of the skin tumor, it was diagnosed as recurrence of PTC. Furthermore, results of subsequent imaging showed lymph node metastasis on her right cervical area. According to the previous medical records, the patient received core needle biopsy through the neck of the patient midline and hematoma was noted after the procedure. The time interval from the first diagnosis to local recurrence or metastasis to the skin and lymph nodes was ten years. As treatment, the patient underwent lymph node dissection in the right and completion thyroidectomy for radioisotope treatment.
Needle tract implantation can occur after core needle biopsy. Further studies are needed to compare core-needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration.
Core Tip: Local recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer can occur in the late period. Clinicians should pay attention to needle tract implantation related core needle biopsy.