Clinical and Ultrasonic Characteristics of Multiple Primary Tumors of Thyroid and Breast

  Objective  To summarize the clinical and ultrasonic features of multiple primary thyroid and breast cancers.

  Methods  The clinical and ultrasonic features of 24 patients with pathologically confirmed multiple primary thyroid and breast cancers who were treated in our hospital between January 1990 and March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed and compared.

  Results  All patients were women. For 9 patients (37.5%) with breast carcinoma after thyroid carcinoma, the intervals between these two diagnoses were less than 12 months in 2 patients (22.2%).For 15 patients (62.5%) with thyroid carcinoma after breast carcinoma, the intervals between these two diagnoses were less than 12 months in 6 patients (40.0%). Most of thyroid carcinomas and breast carcinomas were presented as solid mass (86.4% and 84.2%), rregular shape (63.6% and 94.7%), aspect ratio > 1 (50.0% and 57.9%), indistinct margin (63.6% and 78.9%), hypoechoic appearance (90.9% and 100%), punctuate calcification (50.0% and 47.4%), and focal extensive blood flow (50.0% and 68.4%).

  Conclusions  The clinical and ultrasonic features of multiple primary thyroid and breast cancers are similar to those of patients with thyroid carcinoma or breast carcinoma. The ultrasonography can effectivelydetect this condition, especially within the first year after the diagnosis of breast carcinoma.