Skull Base 2009; 19(6): 431-436
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1224772
CASE REPORT

© Thieme Medical Publishers

Transoral Surgical Approach for Retropharyngeal Node Involvement in I-131-Negative 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography–Positive Recurrent Thyroid Cancer

Quang D. Ma1 , Kate Grimm2 , Benjamin I. Paz3 , Ellie Maghami3
  • 1Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California
  • 2Department of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
  • 3Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
29 June 2009 (online)

ABSTRACT

Transoral pharyngotomy is a viable minimally invasive approach for resection of metastatic thyroid cancer in retropharyngeal lymph nodes in highly select patients. A few authors have already reported on its safe application with excellent outcomes. We herein describe a case where the technique is assisted with the Omniguide CO2 laser system to safely access and remove a metastatic node in the retropharyngeal space of a 24 year-old Caucasian woman. Furthermore, her disease was I-131-negative and positron emission tomography–positive, demonstrating the technique is still feasible in this dedifferentiated cancer state.

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Ellie MaghamiM.D. 

City of Hope, National Medical Center

1500 East Duarte Road, MOB LOO1-L, Duarte, CA 91010-3000

Email: emaghami@coh.org