Coexistence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma in a patient affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis

SUMMARY Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. On the contrary, primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare disease, accounting for 2% to 5% of all thyroid malignancies. Despite several cases in which both PTC and PTL arise in the setting of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), the coexistence of both tumors in HT patients is very rare. Herein we report the case of a 66-year-old woman with long-standing nodular HT under replacement therapy, who presented with a fast, painless enlargement in the right anterior side of the neck. Thyroid ultrasonography demonstrated increased growth of a hypoechoic nodule in the right lobe measuring 32 × 20 mm. A total thyroidectomy was performed, and histology revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) on a background of florid HT. Moreover, a unifocal papillary microcarcinoma, classical variant (7 mm, pT1aNxMx), was discovered. The patient was then treated with chemotherapy for the PTL, but she did not undergo radioactive iodine ablation treatment for the microPTC as per guidelines. Two years after surgery, the patient had no evidence of recurrence of either malignancy. This rare case highlights the importance of monitoring HT patients with nodular lesions, especially if they have long-standing disease. In addition, PTL should be considered for differential diagnosis in elder HT patients who present with sudden thyroid enlargement.

Psicologia da Religião no Brasil: a produção em periódicos e livros / Psychology of Religion in Brazil: the production in journals and books

Apresenta-se apreciação crítica da Psicologia da Religião no Brasil, no período de 1956 a 2005, realizada com base em artigos publicados principalmente em periódicos nacionais de Psicologia. Avaliaram-se 125 artigos, segundo o tema, a teoria e a metodologia. Observou-se tendência de aumento gradativo do número de publicações. Os temas preferidos foram saúde, experiência religiosa, vocação, identidade e relações entre psicologia e religião. A produção revela utilização de teorias, conceitos e métodos da linha-mestra da Psicologia. A apreciação crítica é contextualizada em termos da origem da Psicologia da Religião no Brasil, da sua institucionalização acadêmica e dos eventos que resultaram numa literatura científica específica.

A critical evaluation of Psychology of Religion in Brazil, from 1956 to 2005, based mainly on articles published in Brazilian journals of Psychology, is presented. One hundred and twenty five articles were evaluated according to their subject matter, and their theoretical and methodological dimensions. It was observed an increasing trend in the number of publications. The subject matters most studied were health, religious experience, vocation, identity and relationship between psychology and religion. The production demonstrates preference for theories, concepts and methods of Psychology mainstream. The critical evaluation is placed in the context of the history of Psychology of Religion in Brazil, its academic institutionalization and the events that resulted in a specific scientific literature.