A case of metastasis to the thyroid gland from supraglottic cancer

Abstract

There are few reports in the literature of metastasis of head and neck cancer to the thyroid gland. We report a case of metastasis to the thyroid gland from supraglottic cancer. The case was an 80-year-old female, cT2N3bM0, with right cervical lymph node metastasis surrounding the carotid artery. She was treated with Pembrolizumab after radiotherapy. CT imaging after seven courses of Pembrolizumab showed an increasing low-density area in the thyroid gland. Keratinized atypical cells on cytology and histology suggested thyroid metastasis of supraglottic carcinoma. Tracheostomy was performed due to airway stenosis caused by metastatic lesions.Metastatic thyroid cancer can cause airway stenosis and bleeding as it progresses. The possibility of metastatic thyroid cancer should be considered when neoplastic lesions or thyroid function abnormalities are observed in the thyroid gland during treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.