Thoracic Wall Metastasis from an Occult Thyroid Follicular Carcinoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT Occult thyroid carcinoma presenting with clinically apparent metastasis is rare and is a diagnostic challenge. Here, we report a 67-year-old male who presented with a left side chest wall mass resembling a soft tissue sarcoma of 1 year duration. The mass showed rapid enlargement at the latter end of its course, following an initial asymptomatic period. Imaging studies showed a soft tissue mass eroding into several ribs. Wide local excision with primary reconstruction was performed. Histological studies and immune staining revealed metastasis from a follicular thyroid carcinoma. Total thyroidectomy followed, confirming the diagnosis. Postoperatively, radioisotope ablation (I131) was done. A suppression dose of thyroxin was continued with regular thyroglobulin assays. Painful bone metastasis responded well to analgesics, bisphosphonates and external beam radiotherapy. Follicular carcinoma comprises 10 to 15% of thyroid malignancies. Localized thyroid carcinoma has a very good prognosis, 10 years survival rates reducing by 50% with metastatic disease. Commonly, thyroid cancer presents as detectable thyroid nodules, 25% having metastasis. In contrast, metastatic manifestations are reported in less than 5% of occult thyroid cancers. How to cite this article Nawarathna NJ, Kumarasinghe NR, Chandrasekara D, Rathnayake P, Balasooriya BMRS, Senevirathne RJK. Thoracic Wall Metastasis from an Occult Thyroid Follicular Carcinoma. World J Endoc Surg 2014;6(3):119-122.