Case report: Lymph node metastases of breast cancer and thyroid cancer encountered in axilla

Rihan Li; Qingfu Zhang; Dongdong Feng; Feng Jin; Siyuan Han; Xinmiao Yu

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.983996

Case report: Lymph node metastases of breast cancer and thyroid cancer encountered in axilla

Front Oncol. 2022 Sep 30:12:983996. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.983996. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Rihan Li^{1

2}, Qingfu Zhang³, Dongdong Feng^{1

2}, Feng Jin¹, Siyuan Han^{1

2}, Xinmiao Yu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
² Department of Breast and Reconstructive Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
³ Department of Pathology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Abstract

Occurrences of breast cancer and thyroid cancer metachronously or synchronously are common for women, but axillary lymph node metastasis from both cancers is rarely seen. We report a patient who had two metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma after axillary lymph node dissection with mastectomy. Papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis was ensured after thyroidectomy. A literature review revealed that even the co-occurrence of breast cancer and thyroid cancer is not rare, but the etiology behind this phenomenon is not elucidated well. Genetic disorders, thyroid dysfunction, and hormone receptors may be relevant. Considering the rareness of axillary lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer, adjuvant therapy and surgery treatment for this kind of case should be considered elaborately.

Keywords: axillary lymph node metastasis; breast cancer; case report; synchronous cancer; thyroid cancer.

Publication types

Case Reports