Brain-only metastases seen on FDG PET as first relapse of papillary thyroid carcinoma two years post-thyroidectomy

Abstract

We report a case of a 60-year-old man diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer who had a relapse seen only in the brain at FDG PETon standard images. Total thyroidectomy was performed in July 2013 after initial diagnosis. Patient received 131I ablation in December 2013, followed by external beam radiotherapy to the neck. In September 2015, the patient presented with neurological symptoms. Brain MRI showed multiple brain metastases later confirmed on histopathology. An FDG PET/CT scan was performed to evaluate the whole body in November 2015. Multiple hypermetabolic lesions were identified in the brain with no other lesion up to mid thighs.