(Disclaimer: This article is for general use only. The information in the following content has been processed to protect Ms. Hu’s privacy.)
Abstract: Ms. Hu, 41 years old, came to our hospital with “thyroid nodules found during a physical examination”. Ms. Hu reported that she was usually healthy and rarely got sick, but recently she found a thyroid nodule and came to our hospital in order to clarify the specific situation. Combining Ms. Hu’s symptoms, medical history and thyroid puncture results, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on the right side. Ms. Hu was given surgery + medication. After treatment, she recovered well after surgery, with no significant discomfort and improvement in all indicators.
Basic information】Female, 41 years old
Disease Type】Papillary thyroid cancer
Hospital】The First Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Date of consultation】March 2022
Treatment plan】Surgery (right thyroidectomy, thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection in the right central area) + medication (levothyroxine sodium tablets)
Treatment period】6 days of hospitalization and 1 month of outpatient review
Treatment effect】Good postoperative recovery, no significant discomfort, all indicators improved
I. Initial consultation
Ms. Hu came to our hospital in March 2022. She reported that she was in good health, and three months ago, thyroid nodules were found on physical examination. Physical examination: a peanut-sized mass was palpated on the right side of the neck. Other laboratory tests: ultrasensitive thyrotropin: 2.1535 μIU/ml; free thyroxine: 1.06 ng/dl; free triiodothyronine: 2.82 pg/ml; peroxidase antibody: 0.66 IU/ml; thyroglobulin antibody: 2.14 IU/ml. Ultrasonography of the thyroid gland showed a 0.8 cm×0.8 cm size hypoechoic nodule in the middle and lower layers of the right lobe. After full communication with Ms. Hu, ultrasound-guided thyroid aspiration was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was confirmed as papillary thyroid cancer. Combined with Ms. Hu’s medical history and relevant examinations, she was considered to be papillary thyroid carcinoma on the right side and was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Treatment process
The pathological diagnosis was confirmed as papillary thyroid cancer, and thyroid surgery was recommended. After completing the necessary preoperative examinations such as thyroid CT, lung CT and electrocardiogram after hospitalization, and after full communication with Ms. Hu and her family, it was decided to carry out surgical treatment. Ms. Hu then underwent right thyroidectomy + thyroid isthmus resection + lymph node dissection in the right central region. After surgery, the lobe and isthmus of the thyroid gland where the papillary thyroid cancer was located were completely removed, and the lymph nodes in the right central region were also cleared in a standardized manner. Since Ms. Hu had papillary thyroid cancer, she needed long-term endocrine therapy with levothyroxine sodium tablets after surgery, and was instructed to have regular reviews at the outpatient clinic.
(Thyroid CT)
III. Treatment results
After the right thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection in the right central region, Ms. Hu’s depression gradually subsided because the lobe and isthmus where the papillary carcinoma was located were completely removed and the lymph nodes in the ipsilateral central region were dissected in a standardized way to effectively prevent tumor growth and metastasis. Six days after the operation, the indexes improved and no other abnormalities appeared in her body. Before discharge, Ms. Hu was asked to review her condition in 1 month.
IV. Notes
After active treatment, Ms. Hu has effectively controlled the tumor growth and metastasis, and her body has gradually recovered, as a doctor, she is truly happy for Ms. Hu and her family. After surgery, Ms. Hu should maintain a good mood and avoid excessive stress in life and work so as not to affect the recovery of the disease. She should eat a diet rich in protein and dietary fiber, such as eggs, milk and lettuce. In addition, since there is still a low risk of recurrence and metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer, Ms. Hu needs to follow her doctor’s prescription strictly for review in order to detect adverse events and provide timely and effective treatment.
V. Personal insight
Papillary thyroid cancer is a common type of thyroid malignancy in middle-aged women, but it is also the type with the best prognosis. If papillary thyroid cancer is diagnosed, standardized surgical treatment and strict endocrine therapy should be carried out as soon as possible to avoid excessive growth of papillary cancer invading adjacent organs, such as trachea and esophagus, resulting in compression of surrounding organs. However, regular review is needed to avoid recurrence and metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer.