Thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney presenting on a 10 year-old prepubertal girl

Int Braz J Urol. 2019 Jul-Aug;45(4):834-842. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2018.0471.

Abstract

The very rare thyroid-like carcinoma of the kidney (TLCK) is microscopically similar to thyroid follicular cell carcinoma (TFCC). Differential diagnosis with secondary thyroid tumors depends on non-reactivity to immunohistochemical (IHC) markers for TFCC (thyroglobulin - TG and TTF1). We herein describe the fourth Pediatric case in literature and extensively review the subject. Only 29 cases were published to the moment. Most cases were asymptomatic and incidentally detected. Most tumors are hyperechoic and hyperdense with low grade heterogenous enhancement on CT and MRI. Most patients were treated with radical nephrectomy, but partial nephrectomy was used in some cases, apparently with the same results. Metastases are uncommon and apparently do not change prognosis, but follow-ups are limited. Up to the moment, TLCK presents as a low grade malignancy that may be treated exclusively with surgery and frequently with partial kidney renal preservation. A preoperative percutaneous biopsy is a common procedure to investigate atypical tumors in childhood and adult tumors. To recognize the possibility of TLCK is fundamental to avoid unnecessary thyroidectomies in those patients, supposing a primary thyroid tumor.

Keywords: Carcinoma; Kidney Neoplasms; Pediatrics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Nephrectomy / methods
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*