TRAPS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PAPILLARY CARCINOMA ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Objective: To report the case of an elderly woman with subclinical hyperthyroidism and thyroid nodules who, after clinical investigation, concluded a diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma; as well as highlighting the importance of performing a complete assessment for an early and reliable diagnosis. Case Details: Female patient, 71 years old, under outpatient follow-up, with symptoms of Graves' Disease whose initial exams showed a low TSH and normal T4, and with subsequent evaluation presented a thyroid nodule with malignant characteristics at USG. Fine Needle Aspiration Puncture (FNAB) was compatible with Papillary Carcinoma. Final considerations: Hyperthyroidism is a highly prevalent endocrine disease in the Brazilian population, and its main cause is Graves' disease (60-80%). Although its association with Papillary Carcinoma is usually an event not commonly found, it can occur in part of the population. For this reason, complementary tests in patients diagnosed with GD associated with a thyroid nodule are extremely necessary.