ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) gene inactivation and various solid tumors has been reported; however, little information is available about RUNX3 in thyroid cancers. METHODS: We evaluated the DNA methylation of RUNX3 in 13 papillary thyroid cancer tissues and four thyroid cancer cell lines. Additionally, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed RUNX3 gene expression in several thyroid cancer cell lines after treating with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC). RESULTS: RUNX3 was hypermethylated in many thyroid cancer cell lines and in 10 of the 12 papillary thyroid cancer tissues. Treatment with DAC increased the expression of RUNX3 in some thyroid cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that RUNX3 is associated with thyroid carcinogenesis, and RUNX3 methylation is a potentially useful diagnostic marker for papillary thyroid cancer.
Subject(s)
Humans , Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives , Carcinoma/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit/genetics , DNA Methylation/drug effects , Gene Expression/drug effects , Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/geneticsABSTRACT
Hyperfunctioning thyroid carcinoma is very rare. Hence, radionuclide imaging of thyroid hot nodules usually suggests a benign tumor, and less than 4% of cases have been reported as malignant. We would like to present a case of a hyperfunctioning papillary thyroid carcinoma that was initially treated with radioactive iodine. A 58-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for palpable thyroid nodule and a 5-kg weight loss within 6 months. Thyroid function test revealed thyrotoxicosis, and thyroid autoantibodies were absent. 99mTc thyroid scintigraphy showed a 2 x 2 cm-sized hyperactive hot nodule at the left lobe. Despite radioactive iodine treatment with a dose of 10 mCi 131I, thyroid function did not improve. Fine needle aspiration revealed papillary thyroid cancer. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy. Although clinical features and thyroid scans suggest a benign nodule, the possibility of malignancy should not be ruled out. Malignant thyroid hot nodules are rare; however, its possibility should be taken into account. Therefore, we suggest that ruling out malignancy by existing diagnostic guidelines can misdiagnose even a typical case with benign features. As thyroid nodule detection is getting sensitive and accurate, we present this case to discuss whether additional diagnostic approaches would be necessary for thyroid nodules.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Autoantibodies , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Carcinoma , Iodine , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Thyroidectomy , Thyrotoxicosis , Weight LossABSTRACT
A 30-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fatigue, palpitation and severe weakness of both legs. The admission laboratory findings revealed thyrotoxicosis, and 131I thyroid scintigraphic imaging revealed a low radioactive iodine uptake. He was treated for painless thyroiditis for about 4 months. However, thyrotoxic state had continued and radioactive iodine uptake was markedly increased in the follow up scan. Painless thyroiditis often relapses, but rarely develops into Graves' disease. This is a rare case in which painless thyroiditis was followed by Graves' disease.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Fatigue , Follow-Up Studies , Graves Disease , Iodine , Leg , Recurrence , Thyroid Gland , Thyroiditis , ThyrotoxicosisABSTRACT
Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. The characteristic pathological finding is the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The lungs are primarily affected, however other organs may be involved causing various symptoms and ambiguous laboratory findings can be present. There are a few reported cases of sarcoidosis with elevated tumor markers. We describe a 68-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis showing elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The possibility of cancer arising from serum CEA such as gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer was excluded. A transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated a non-caseating granuloma without necrosis. As a result prescribed 30 mg prednisolone daily to the patient and serum CEA was decreased after 1 month of treatment. We report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with elevated serum CEA.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Biopsy , Breast Neoplasms , Carcinoembryonic Antigen , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Granuloma , Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Necrosis , Prednisolone , Sarcoidosis , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary , Biomarkers, TumorABSTRACT
Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. The characteristic pathological finding is the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The lungs are primarily affected, however other organs may be involved causing various symptoms and ambiguous laboratory findings can be present. There are a few reported cases of sarcoidosis with elevated tumor markers. We describe a 68-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis showing elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The possibility of cancer arising from serum CEA such as gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer was excluded. A transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated a non-caseating granuloma without necrosis. As a result prescribed 30 mg prednisolone daily to the patient and serum CEA was decreased after 1 month of treatment. We report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with elevated serum CEA.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Biopsy , Breast Neoplasms , Carcinoembryonic Antigen , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Granuloma , Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Necrosis , Prednisolone , Sarcoidosis , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary , Biomarkers, TumorABSTRACT
Extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and this most commonly affects the nasal and paranasal cavities. Primary lymphoma of the gallbladder is extremely rare and solitary relapsed extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma of the gallbladder has not yet been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of a solitary relapsed extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma of the gallbladder. One year earlier, a 55-year-old man was diagnosed with extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma of the anus, and he underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone), and he achieved complete remission. The patient was admitted for right upper quadrant pain. Computed tomography (CT) performed on readmission revealed gallbladder wall thickening. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed hypermetabolic lesions along the gallbladder wall. The specimen obtained at cholecystectomy revealed CD3(+) and CD56(+) lymphoma, which is characteristic of NK-T cell lymphoma.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Anal Canal , Cholecystectomy , Doxorubicin , Gallbladder , Gallbladder Neoplasms , Korea , Lymphoma , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin , VincristineABSTRACT
Ochrobactrum anthropi is an aerobic, gram-negative, motile, non-lactose-fermenting, oxidase-producing, and urease-positive bacillus. We reported a case of aortic valve endocarditis due to O. anthropi in a hemodialysis patient. To our knowledge, this is the first case of O. anthropi endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient in Korea. The organism was resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptible to ciprofloxacin, amikacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin and carbapenem. We treated O. anthropi endocarditis with meropenem for 6 weeks and the patient recovered completely.