Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Masked by Diffuse Parenchymal Calcification

ABSTRACT

A patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma most commonly presents with a thyroid nodule or cervical lymphadenopathy. The ultrasonographic features of malign nodules are well known by the clinicians. Incidentally diagnosed papillary carcinomas are frequently microcarcinomas and it is believed that these are clinically inconsiderable. Here, we report an unusual case of papillary thyroid carcinoma that a distinct nodule could not be detected on ultrasound due to diffuse intense parenchymal calcification, however, pathologic diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma was established.