Metastatic carcinoma of the thyroid gland: a report of 35 cases
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1007-631X.2011.08.008
- VernacularTitle:甲状腺转移癌35例的临床特点及诊治分析
- Author:
Yue YU
;
Xiaolei WANG
;
Zhengang XU
;
Yuehuang WU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Thyroid;
Neoplasm metastasis;
Diagnosis;
Therapy;
Prognosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of General Surgery
2011;26(8):644-647
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancer metastasis to the thyroid gland. Methods A restropective review was performed on 35 patients with cancer metastasis to the thyroid gland in our hospital from 1958 to 2010. Diagnosis was confirmed by fineneedle aspiration cytology or histopathology in all cases. Results Primary tumor origin was identified in all but three cases. The lung was the most common primary tumor site( n = 16), followed by esophagus( n =9),breast ( n = 2), kidney ( n = 2), hypopharynx ( n= 1 ), nasopharynx ( n = 1 ) and soft palate ( n = 1 ). Thyroid metastasis was found before the diagnosis of the primary tumor was established in 12 cases; in the other 23 cases, the time lapse from diagnosis of the primary tumor to metastasis to the thyroid gland ranged from 0- 168 months, median 24 months. In 6 patients, this interval was more than 36 months. Fine-needle aspiration cytology ( FNAC ) confirmed metastatic malignancy in 7 patients, histology in 24, combined application confirmed the diagnosis in 4. After the metastasis to the thyroid gland was established, the median survival time for the entire group was 11.5 months, the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 43.8%,27. 8% and 11.9%, respectively. 28 patients were treated surgically, and 7 received nonsurgical therapy.The overall survival rate in the surgical group was higher than that in the nonsurgical group (P <0. 01 ). In those patients with metastatic cervical lymph nodes, median survival time did not vary from patients undergoing thyroidectomy with neck dissection to those undergoing thyroidectomy alone (P > 0. 05 ).Conclusions Metastasis of carcinoma to the thyroid gland has an occult occurrence, thyroid metastases can be detected conclusively with FNAC. Metastasis to the thyroid gland implies advanced malignant tumors,often with poor prognosis.