Timely diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in a young woman presenting to primary care during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: from ultrasound to pathology
Abstrakt
Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) are the most common type of thyroid malignancy that usually presents as a palpable or non -palpable nodule. Some of these nodules may cause hoarseness, swallowing, and breathing problems.
In this paper, we present a case of PTC with fatigue as the leading symptom. The suspicion for thyroid disease was made upon palpation of the thyroid nodule during a periodic preventive care visit by a general practitioner during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.
Further management consisted of fine-needle aspiration, total thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine, and life-long medication of levothyroxine. Presenting this case, we would like to emphasize the paramount role of periodic preventive care visits even during such a challenging time as the COVID-19 pandemic definitely is.