Isolated massive thyroid metastasis in lung cancer

Bandyopadhyay SK, Bandyopadhyay R, Dutta A
Correspondence: Dr S K Bandyopadhyay, drsanjay_b@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT
Metastasis to the thyroid gland is rare despite its rich vascular supply. Among the pulmonary malignancies metastasising to the thyroid, adenocarcinomas are the commonest. The appearance of metastatic disease in lung carcinoma indicates a poor prognosis and the average survival is two months. We report a 62-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma of lung metastatic to the thyroid that produced massive enlargement of the gland. The appearance of the secondary preceded the diagnosis of the primary malignancy by a few months. Ultimately, the patient succumbed to her disease.

Keywords: lung cancer, metastasis, thyroid metastasis, thyroid tumour
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(4): 324-326