Bilateral Hurthle cell adenoma of thyroid: a rare case report

Abstract

Hurthle cell of adenoma of thyroid gland is rare neoplasms of the thyroid.  Size more than 4 cm is rare finding and moreover the occurrence of a multifocal Hurthle cell adenoma is not supported by antecedents in literature. Sonography fails to identify its potentials for malignancy while fine needle aspiration cytology couldn’t differentiate it from Hurthle cell carcinoma of thyroid. The management of Hurthle cell adenoma and Hurthle cell carcinoma is quite different and hence diagnostic dilemma should be sorted out early. A 26 year old female presented with bilateral thyroid swelling. Ultrasonography of thyroid gland showed complex solid cystic nodules in bilateral thyroid lobes with right thyroid lobe measuring 4.1×3.4×2.5 cm and left thyroid lobe measure 3.1×1.7×1.6 cm. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was suggestive of papillary malignancy with extensive Hurthle cell changes (Class V, Bethesda classification). The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral parathyroid gland preservation. Histopathology revealed it as Hurthle cell adenoma (HCA) involving bilateral lobe and multifocal in nature. The treatment of choice for Hurthle cell carcinoma is total thyroidectomy with neck dissection depending on the nature of the lesions. However the treatment of Hurthle cell adenoma is only hemithyroidectomy or lobectomy as it is a benign condition. Differentiation of these two entirely different conditions warrants more studies.