Papillary thyroid carcinoma and familial adenomatous

Objective: Case report and limited review of the literature on the topic of papillary thyroid carcinoma and familial adenomatous polyposis and its genetic associations. Methods: A patient with multiple prior surgeries for colonic polyps, abdominal perineal resection for colorectal cancer, and wedge resection for metastatic adenocarcinoma (consistent with rectal primary) presented with a thyroid mass. Fine-needle aspiration demonstrated papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results: The patient underwent total thyroidectomy. Pathologic examination revealed the cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma that has been reported in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Conclusions: Cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon diagnosis known to be associated with familial adenomatous polyposis. Although the incidence is rare, this diagnosis Should raise the clinician's suspicions to recommend both colorectal screening and genetic counseling for family members. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.