Brain Metastasis From Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Seventy-Three-Year-Old Man

Abstract

Introduction: Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is the most common differentiated malignancy of thyroid, which is characterized by slow progression and a good prognosis. Being extremely rare, brain metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have a poor prognosis; they are usually asymptomatic, but a few could be very symptomatic and life threatening. Case Presentation: We report a rare case of brain metastasis from PTC with sudden loss of consciousness and normal follow-up screening tests, 17 years after primary diagnosis of PTC. The patient underwent radical surgery urgently and the histopathologic diagnosis of metastatic brain tumor of thyroid papillary carcinoma was made. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient's neurologic deficits improved. Discussion(s): An early diagnosis and treatment of brain metastasis of PTC can result in longer survival time for patients and magnetic resonance imaging can be used as the most sensitive method for detecting brain metastases. The treatment modalities must be individualized and surgery could be a more suitable treatment option in case of hemorrhagic metastasis.Copyright © 2015, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.