Insular Carcinoma of the Thyroid with Jugular Vein Invasion / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Insular carcinoma of the thyroid is an uncommon thyroglobulin-producing neoplasm, showing intermediate aggressiveness between well-differentiated follicular carcinoma and undifferentiated anaplastic carcinoma. Although microscopic angioinvasion of insular carcinoma is common, gross invasion of the cervical veins and intraluminal propagation are rarely seen. We encountered a case of a 37-year-old man with an insular carcinoma of the thyroid displaying the aggressive local invasion and angioinvasion of the internal jugular vein. After complete resection of the tumor, postoperative radioactive iodine was administered. The patient survives 12 months after surgery, and no locoreginal recurrence and distant metastasis were noted. Aggressive surgical resection and postoperative radioactive iodine therapy may be indicated in the treatment of insular carcinoma of the thyroid with invasion of the internal jugular vein, as we performed in this case, to achieve locoregional disease control and prolonged survival.