Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Abstract Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive form of thyroid carcinoma. Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, is rarely used in preoperative settings due to adverse effects including delayed wound healing and fistula formation. Herein, we report the use of lenvatinib...

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Main Authors: Haruhiko Yamazaki, Katsuhiko Masudo, Sachie Kanada, Yoshiaki Inayama, Hiroyuki Hayashi, Yu Fujii, Yasushi Rino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2023-03-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01619-6
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author Haruhiko Yamazaki
Katsuhiko Masudo
Sachie Kanada
Yoshiaki Inayama
Hiroyuki Hayashi
Yu Fujii
Yasushi Rino
author_facet Haruhiko Yamazaki
Katsuhiko Masudo
Sachie Kanada
Yoshiaki Inayama
Hiroyuki Hayashi
Yu Fujii
Yasushi Rino
author_sort Haruhiko Yamazaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive form of thyroid carcinoma. Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, is rarely used in preoperative settings due to adverse effects including delayed wound healing and fistula formation. Herein, we report the use of lenvatinib treatment prior to conversion surgery for the treatment of ATC. Case presentation A 71-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with suspected thyroid cancer with recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis based on the results of ultrasonography. Computed tomography demonstrated the presence of a thyroid tumor invading the trachea and esophagus with no evidence of distant metastasis. Fine needle aspiration of the left cervical lymph node indicated the lymph node metastasis of ATC. As the tumor had widely invaded the trachea and esophagus, unresectable ATC was diagnosed and treatment with lenvatinib was initiated at a dose of 24 mg/day. On day 13 of lenvatinib treatment, the primary tumor and lymph node metastases demonstrated a partial response to therapy. As the tumor was now considered resectable, the decision was made to perform conversion surgery. Total thyroidectomy and left lateral neck node dissection were performed 7 days after the withdrawal of lenvatinib. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 with no complications. Histopathological examination demonstrated that the tumor contained the component of papillary thyroid carcinoma, squamoid ATC cells, and granulation tissue. In areas of granulation tissue, atypical cells with spindle-shaped or polygonal morphology, pyknotic nuclei, and scant cytoplasm were observed. Immunohistochemically, these cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, TTF-1, and p53 and negative for thyroglobulin and PAX8. Therefore, the areas of granulation tissue observed within tumor samples were also considered ATC that were affected by lenvatinib treatment. In total, approximately 50% of resected tumor comprised ATC, and 70% of them had been changed to granulation tissue. Conclusions The findings in the present case indicate that lenvatinib may have significant antitumor effects in preoperative settings. Lenvatinib may represent a promising candidate therapy for unresectable ATC by increasing tumor resectability.
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spelling doaj-art-7d4db5f89439480d90386bb9010465402025-08-20T02:51:53ZengJapan Surgical SocietySurgical Case Reports2198-77932023-03-01911710.1186/s40792-023-01619-6Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case reportHaruhiko Yamazaki0Katsuhiko Masudo1Sachie Kanada2Yoshiaki Inayama3Hiroyuki Hayashi4Yu Fujii5Yasushi Rino6Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical CenterDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical CenterDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Yokohama City University Medical CenterDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Yokohama City University Medical CenterDepartment of Pathology, Yokohama Municipal Citizen’s HospitalDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical CenterDepartment of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of MedicineAbstract Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive form of thyroid carcinoma. Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, is rarely used in preoperative settings due to adverse effects including delayed wound healing and fistula formation. Herein, we report the use of lenvatinib treatment prior to conversion surgery for the treatment of ATC. Case presentation A 71-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with suspected thyroid cancer with recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis based on the results of ultrasonography. Computed tomography demonstrated the presence of a thyroid tumor invading the trachea and esophagus with no evidence of distant metastasis. Fine needle aspiration of the left cervical lymph node indicated the lymph node metastasis of ATC. As the tumor had widely invaded the trachea and esophagus, unresectable ATC was diagnosed and treatment with lenvatinib was initiated at a dose of 24 mg/day. On day 13 of lenvatinib treatment, the primary tumor and lymph node metastases demonstrated a partial response to therapy. As the tumor was now considered resectable, the decision was made to perform conversion surgery. Total thyroidectomy and left lateral neck node dissection were performed 7 days after the withdrawal of lenvatinib. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 with no complications. Histopathological examination demonstrated that the tumor contained the component of papillary thyroid carcinoma, squamoid ATC cells, and granulation tissue. In areas of granulation tissue, atypical cells with spindle-shaped or polygonal morphology, pyknotic nuclei, and scant cytoplasm were observed. Immunohistochemically, these cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, TTF-1, and p53 and negative for thyroglobulin and PAX8. Therefore, the areas of granulation tissue observed within tumor samples were also considered ATC that were affected by lenvatinib treatment. In total, approximately 50% of resected tumor comprised ATC, and 70% of them had been changed to granulation tissue. Conclusions The findings in the present case indicate that lenvatinib may have significant antitumor effects in preoperative settings. Lenvatinib may represent a promising candidate therapy for unresectable ATC by increasing tumor resectability.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01619-6Anaplastic thyroid carcinomaConversion surgeryLenvatinib
spellingShingle Haruhiko Yamazaki
Katsuhiko Masudo
Sachie Kanada
Yoshiaki Inayama
Hiroyuki Hayashi
Yu Fujii
Yasushi Rino
Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
Surgical Case Reports
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Conversion surgery
Lenvatinib
title Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
title_full Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
title_fullStr Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
title_short Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
title_sort conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma a case report
topic Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Conversion surgery
Lenvatinib
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01619-6
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