A Case Report of Thyroid Gland Metastasis Associated with Lung Metastasis from Colon Cancer

Abstract

Thyroid gland metastasis of malignant tumors is observed in 1.9% to 9.5% of histologically examined autopsy cases. Thyroid metastasis from colon cancer is extremely rare and the prognosis is poor. Here we report a case of lung metastasis and thyroid gland metastasis following sigmoid colon cancer surgery. In 2000, a 58-year-old woman underwent a sigmoid colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer. In 2005, a metastatic lung tumor was detected by chest CT. The patient underwent a partial thoracoscopic resection of the left lung in April 2005. On a CT scan taken 3 years and 4 months after the lung resection, a tumor mass was observed in the left lung and a low-absorption region with an unclear border was seen in the left lobe of the thyroid gland. Thyroid aspiration cytology showed adenocarcinoma, and a diagnosis of thyroid gland metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer was made. In April 2008 a subtotal thyroidectomy was performed. Following surgery, the patient underwent chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 and bevacizumab. Nevertheless a number of lung metastases and expressions of lung metastasis were subsequently observed. Histopathological examination revealed a number of metastases of differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma in the thyroid gland from colon cancer.

Solitary thyroid metastasis from colon cancer: a rare case report

“…There are two theories that attempt to explain why metastases to the thyroid are so rare: the first suggests that the rich arterial supply and high vascularity of the thyroid gland prevents tumour cells from remaining fixed in the gland [14, 15]. In the second hypothesis, the high oxygen saturation and high iodine content in the thyroid are credited with preventing the growth of tumour cells from other organs [14, 16].…”

“…In the second hypothesis, the high oxygen saturation and high iodine content in the thyroid are credited with preventing the growth of tumour cells from other organs [14, 16]. …”

“…The prognosis varies in relation to the grade of malignancy of the primary lesion; in general, renal cell carcinoma is of low grade malignancy, while lung and gastrointestinal carcinoma are often associated with spread to other organs with unfavourable prognosis [14]. …”

Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma or Thyroid Metastasis from Cholangiocarcinoma? A Case Report

“…The incidence of thyroid metastases secondary to any type of primary tumor is reported between 1.9-9.5% and surgical resection of the thyroid metastasis ranges between 0.02 and 1.4% [3][4][5][6][7][8]. The survival is poor, ranging between 1 and 12 months [9][10][11][12]. Most frequently the primary tumor is renal and only two cases of thyroid metastases secondary to cholangiocarcinoma were reported on Pubmed database [3,4].…”

Thyroid gland metastasis arising from primary liver cholangiocarcinoma: The first case report involving surgical operation

“…The prognosis varies with the malignancy grade of the primary lesion and the presence of metastasis in organs other than the thyroid gland. 16 Chemotherapy has traditionally been administered as palliative treatment in this setting. Reports on chemotherapy for the treatment of thyroid metastases are scant, and the use of 5-FU alone in this setting yielded disappointing results, with survival ranging between 1 and 6 months.…”