Clavicle metastasis from carcinoma thyroid- an atypical skeletal event and a management dilemma

Abstract

Bone metastases is a well described event in the natural history of thyroid cancers and has the potential to severely impact the quality of life by causing pain, fractures and spinal cord compression. Follicular thyroid carcinomas have a greater propensity for distal metastasis than papillary and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. The most common sites of skeletal metastasis among thyroid cancer patients are femur followed by humerus, pelvis, radius, and scapula. Clavicle metastasis at initial presentation is exceedingly rare. Although many studies have examined the various prognostic factors for patients with bony metastases from thyroid cancers, very few have actually evaluated the effects of surgical management. We present an unusual case of metastatic papillary carcinoma thyroid presenting with clavicle metastasis and review the role of surgical management of bone metastases. Clavicular resection as a part of the management of metastatic papillary carcinoma thyroid has, to the best of our knowledge never been reported before.