Suture granuloma mimicking recurrent thyroid carcinoma on ultrasonography

Yonsei Med J. 2006 Oct 31;47(5):748-51. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.748.

Abstract

Although high resolution ultrasonography (US) is helpful in the differentiation of suture granulomas from recurrent thyroid cancer in most cases, a definite diagnosis cannot always be made. We report a case that mimicked recurrent thyroid cancer on US and 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), but diagnosis of a suture granuloma was confirmed by a US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). In order to avoid unnecessary operations, the differential diagnosis between postoperative suture granulomas and recurrent cancer is important.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / diagnosis*
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / diagnostic imaging
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / etiology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Sutures / adverse effects*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroidectomy / adverse effects*
  • Ultrasonography