Follicular thyroid carcinoma with skull metastases.

Abstract

Thyroid carcinoma with distant metastases at initial presentation, is uncommon. Skull metastases occur very rarely, with a reported incidence of 2.5-5.8%. Here we report two cases of follicular thyroid cancer with skull involvement, and describe the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to metastatic thyroid cancer. We present the cases of a 70-year-old female and a 74-year-old female who presented with painless, large slow-growing masses of the skull. The patients underwent surgical excision of the skull masses, which were histologically diagnosed as metastatic follicular thyroid cancer, and total thyroidectomy, which confirmed the diagnosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma. They were treated with radioiodine and suppressive levothyroxine, which achieved local control of the disease. Management of metastatic thyroid cancer, requires a multidisciplinary approach and multimodality treatment. Distant metastases should be surgically removed whenever possible. Initial aggressive treatment is crucial in the management of metastatic thyroid carcinoma, providing the best chance to prolong patient survival.

• Authors: Maria Grazia Chiofalo, Sergio Venanzio Setola, Francesca Di Gennaro, Franco Fulciniti, Giuseppe Catapano, Nunzia Simona Losito, Fabio Sandomenico, Orlando Catalano, Luciano Pezzullo
• Journal: Endocrine journal (Endocr J) Vol. 62 Issue 4 Pg. 363-9 ( 2015) ISSN: 1348-4540 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 25797278 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Iodine Radioisotopes

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma, Follicular (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Skull Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, secondary)
• Thyroid Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Whole Body Imaging