Virchow node of an unusual aetiology - the experience of a clinical case

Autores da FMUP

• João Sérgio De Lima Soares Neves

  Autor

• Davide Maurício Costa Carvalho

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Canha, M.
• Albuquerque, I
• Pacheco, J
• Silva, MM
• Oliveira, AI

Unidades de investigação

• Cirurgia e Fisiologia

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• Medicina

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Background: The cause of adult adenomegalies may be defiant. On the other hand, ectopic thyroid is a rare condition that happens in every 1:100000 to 300,000 of healthy individuals. Here, we present a case report that joins these two clinical rare and defiant challenges. Clinical case: Forty-seven-year-old woman, with known thyroid nodules for several years. She had no other relevant personal or familiar history. At our appointment she had no complaints. At the physical examination she had a palpable right thyroid nodule (previously known). The routine blood analysis showed normal thyroid function. The routine cervical ultrasonography showed no dimensional progression of the known thyroid nodules and identified a 31x18mm nodule at the left supraclavicular fossa. The patient underwent a cervical, thoracic, and abdominal computed tomography that exhibited no relevant findings, such as abdominal malignancies. The cytology of the nodule showed characteristics that were compatible with a benign follicular nodule in ectopic thyroid tissue. Conclusion: This is a rare case in which we incidentally found a follicular nodule in ectopic thyroid tissue in the left supraclavicular fossa. Given the rarity of the situation, clinical sense is the mainstay of treatment and follow-up.

Keywords

• Virchow node; Supraclavicular node; Ectopic thyroid