Clinical presentation: A 48-year-old woman was referred to aspiration cytology. She was operated 15 years ago when a resection of the right lobe was performed and beside hyperplastic nodules a solitary focus of a papillary carcinoma was detected. The maximal diameter of the carcinoma was 3 mm. No further therapy was administered and she did not undergo on follow-up investigation in the past 15 years.

Palpation: a very firm nodule in the left lobe.

Functional state: euthyroidism (TSH 2.40 mIU/l).

Ultrasonography. The thyroid was echonormal. There were a few hypoechogenic areas in the previously resected left lobe. There was a hypoechogenic nodule with irregular borders and microcalcifications in the left thyroid.

Cytology resulted in papillary carcinoma.

Total thyroidectomy was performed. Histopathology disclosed a solitary focus of papillary carcinoma with a maximal diameter of 10 mm.