A Diagnostic Dilemma: A Young Boy with Loss of Weight, Pulmonary Infiltrates and Cervical Lymphadenitis
Published: August 1, 2013 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2013/.3251
Asmita A. Mehta, Sunil Kumar K., Rajesh Venkitakrishnan
1. Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Ponekara, Kochi-682041, Kerala, India.
2. Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Ponekara, Kochi-682041, Kerala India.
3. Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Ponekara, Kochi-682041, Kerala India.
Correspondence
Dr. Asmita A. Mehta,
Associate Professor, Dept of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, AIMS Ponekkara P.O, Kochi, Kerala–682041, India.
Phone: +91-9037450374, E-mail: asmitamehta@aims.amrita.edu
Cervical lymphadenitis is a common finding in young adults in a country like India, where tuberculosis is endemic. We are presenting the case of a young boy who presented with low grade fever, dry cough, weight loss, and a cervical swelling. His chest X-ray showed diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates. Contrast enhanced CT of chest showed bilateral multiple ring shadows. Cervical lymph node fine needle cytology suggested a metastatic thyroid carcinoma. He was evaluated extensively and a final diagnosis of a familial medullary thyroid carcinoma was made. Medullary thyroid carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenitis with lung infiltrates in young adults. It may be sporadic or a part of an inherited autosomal dominant disorder like multiple endocrine neoplasia. Genetic testing should be done for all patients with a diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
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