Preprint Case Report Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Malignant Pseudothyroiditis after COVID-19 Infection Revealing a Poor-Cellular Variant of a Thyroid Anaplastic Carcinoma

Version 1 : Received: 3 July 2023 / Approved: 3 July 2023 / Online: 4 July 2023 (03:14:53 CEST)

How to cite: Ghanassia, E.; Monpeyssen, H.; Marchand, J.; Coste, T.; Garrel, R.; Costes-Martineau, V.; Marcy, P.Y. Malignant Pseudothyroiditis after COVID-19 Infection Revealing a Poor-Cellular Variant of a Thyroid Anaplastic Carcinoma. Preprints 2023, 2023070068. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0068.v1 Ghanassia, E.; Monpeyssen, H.; Marchand, J.; Coste, T.; Garrel, R.; Costes-Martineau, V.; Marcy, P.Y. Malignant Pseudothyroiditis after COVID-19 Infection Revealing a Poor-Cellular Variant of a Thyroid Anaplastic Carcinoma. Preprints 2023, 2023070068. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0068.v1

Abstract

ATC is a rare cancer with a slightly growing incidence and a poor prognosis determined by the delay of treatment, usually revealed by an enlarging goiter with compressive symptoms and, more rarely, by inflammatory and thyrotoxic symptoms, a clinic entity called malignant pseudothyroiditis (MPT) mimicking subacute thyroiditis (SAT). With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, many cases of COVID-19 related SAT were described with the usual clinical presentation enriched by the COVID-19 symptoms, leading to the emergence of atypic clinical pictures. We present the case of a 60-year-old patient who developed, one month after a COVID 19 acute infection, a clinical presentation of SAT with atypical ultrasound features leading to the diagnosis of MPT; histological atypia was misleading, finally making precise diagnosis was difficult. To our best knowledge, this is the first ever reported case of MPT mimicking COVID-19 SAT. We reviewed thirty five cases published to date and discuss the mechanisms underlying MPT physiopathogenesis and the ultrasound and histological features. We point out the similarities between MPT and SAT and the role of ultrasound at clinical presentation workup. Finally there are two key points to remind: First, to perform neck ultrasound in any painful goiter and, in case of atypia, perform a US guided core-needle biopsy, a complementary CT-scan and quickly refer the patient to an expert center. Second, always think that COVID-19 infection is a recent entity and be aware that it can influence the clinical presentation of any disease.

Keywords

pseudothyroiditis; COVID-19; anaplastic carcinoma; semiology atypia

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Oncology and Oncogenics

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.