Lytic skull metastasis secondary to thyroid carcinoma in an adolescent

Hong Kong Med J. 2002 Apr;8(2):149-51.

Abstract

We report an unusual case of skull metastasis secondary to thyroid carcinoma in an adolescent girl. The 18-year-old presented with an occipital scalp swelling of 5 years' duration. She reported having thyroid surgery in mainland China 10 years previously. Radiological investigations on presentation demonstrated a lytic hypervascular skull lesion. Preoperative angiography and embolisation was followed by surgical excision. Pathological examination showed the lesion to be a thyroid carcinoma with a predominantly follicular pattern and a completion hemithyroidectomy was subsequently performed. Computed tomography of the thorax showed small micronodules in both lung fields compatible with metastases. The patient was given whole body iodine-131 internal radiation treatment and subsequently commenced thyroid-stimulating hormone-suppressive treatment with thyroxine. The management of thyroid carcinoma and subsequent skull metastasis in children and adolescents is reviewed and controversial points are highlighted.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / therapy
  • Adolescent
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Skull Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skull Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Skull Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Whole-Body Irradiation