Retropharyngeal spread of carcinoma of the thyroid

Abstract

In the 20‐year period between 1945 and 1964, 313 patients with thyroid carcinoma were studied. Review of these records disclosed 7 patients in whom retropharyngeal metastasis had occurred. Six of these patients have died and, in 4 of these, death was directly attributable to the retropharyngeal extension. In some instances, the base of the skull or the upper cervical spine was invaded, and in 4 of the patients the cranial nerves were also involved. This type of extension appears to be more common than is generally thought. Copyright © 1970 American Cancer Society