Thyroid Cancer Presenting as Neck Pain at a Chiropractic Clinic

Abstract

We report an unusual case of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with progressive neck pain in a 58-year-old female with known bilateral thyroid nodules. Despite initial benign ultrasonographic findings and trials of conservative therapy for over 2 months, the patient’s anterior neck pain and unremitting symptoms prompted concern regarding an underlying orthopedic condition. She sought chiropractic consultation, and MRI revealed pathologic vertebral fractures. Biopsy of the thyroid and vertebral bone lesions demonstrated metastatic thyroid carcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. The early detection of metastatic disease is critical for optimizing oncological treatment and outcomes. This case highlights the importance of close follow-up when the initial workup or management fails, consideration of sinister pathologies in high-risk patients, and a multidisciplinary approach to complex conditions. It provides an important reminder not to attribute unresolved symptoms to benign causes without serial re-evaluation, especially in patients with known risks, such as thyroid disease. A high index of suspicion and openness to atypical disease presentations is fundamental to avoid missed opportunities for diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Sacral Chordoma Presenting as Back Pain in the Chiropractic Clinic: A Case Report

“…A patient's medical history and physical examination may reveal symptoms and signs suggestive of a sacral chordoma. While musculoskeletal conditions are commonly encountered by chiropractors [6], the present case highlights the importance of being vigilant for rare diseases, such as sacral chordomas, which may present with nonspecific clinical features mimicking more common musculoskeletal disorders [5,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Both patients presented with symptoms suggestive of a sacral chordoma and the MRI findings were consistent with the typical features of a sacral chordoma.…”

Unmasking Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Chiropractic Patient With Musculoskeletal Complaints

“…Differentiating between musculoskeletal and systemic causes of pain presents challenges for healthcare providers, as they can manifest similar symptoms [17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. In our case, the patient's initial presentation of neck and back pain and lower extremity numbness and tenderness was consistent with a musculoskeletal origin.…”