Métastase intrathyroïdienne localement avancée d’un cancer bronchique

Purpose

To assess the characteristics, the diagnosis and the treatment of intrathyroid metastasis.

Method

The authors report a case of a locally advanced intrathyroid metastasis of a bronchial cancer.

Results

A 60-year-old woman, treated seven years before for a well-differentiated bronchial adenocarcinoma, developed enlargement of the thyroid gland. Metastatic disease was confirmed by a surgical biopsy. Following incomplete radiochemotherapy, a palliative surgical debulking was performed, associating an isthmolobectomy with a large skin excision and closure with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.

Conclusion

Intrathyroid metastases are rare and usually treated by surgery. Surgical management is decided taking into account the type and the kinetics of the primary tumor, the location of the thyroid metastasis, and the extension of the metastatic disease. Except for isolated intrathyroid metastasis of kidney cancer, prognosis remains poor.