Thyroid Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma Eight Years after Total Nephrectomy

Coralie Mettavant,Patrick Saint Eve

doi:10.4172/2167-7948.1000203

Abstract

Introduction: Metastases to the thyroid gland are rare in clinical practice. 12 to 34% of secondary thyroid tumors originate from renal carcinoma. We report a case of late thyroid metastasis, eight year after a nephrectomy for clear cell renal carcinoma. Case: A 70-years-old Caucasian patient followed for a multi-nodular goiter with a history of renal carcinoma, underwent a thyroidectomy. A histological examination revealed clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid. Conclusion: Metastases to the thyroid gland are usually asymptomatic. The diagnosis of secondary malignant thyroid tumor should be taken into account if there is history of neoplasia, renal in particular, even years after the surgery of the primary tumor.

Highlights

Metastases to the thyroid gland are rare in clinical practice. 12 to 34% of secondary thyroid tumors originate from renal carcinoma
We report the case of a 70 year old patient followed for asymptomatic multi-nodular goiter diagnosed with a thyroid metastasis of renal carcinoma operated eight years ago
A 70-years-old Caucasian patient was followed for a multi-nodular goiter and she had a past medical and surgical history of high blood pressure, a bilateral chronic glaucoma and a radical left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

Summary

Introduction

Metastases to the thyroid gland are rare in clinical practice. 12 to 34% of secondary thyroid tumors originate from renal carcinoma. 12 to 34% of secondary thyroid tumors originate from renal carcinoma. We report a case of late thyroid metastasis, eight year after a nephrectomy for clear cell renal carcinoma. Case: A 70-years-old Caucasian patient followed for a multi-nodular goiter with a history of renal carcinoma, underwent a thyroidectomy. A histological examination revealed clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid. The first metastatic site is pulmonary, it is not rare to observe some metastasis in other organs such as thyroid [2]. The renal origin of thyroid metastasis is an important prognostic indicator to consider, because it determines the therapeutic management of a patient. We report the case of a 70 year old patient followed for asymptomatic multi-nodular goiter diagnosed with a thyroid metastasis of renal carcinoma operated eight years ago It has been demonstrated that these secondary sites could not be synchronous, and can occur until more than twenty years after the initial nephrectomy [3].

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