Thyroidal metastasis of primary extrathyroidal tumors

Abstract

Background: Although metastasis in the thyroid gland are rare and infrequently diagnosed, they can be found in 1 to 24% of all autopsies.
Objective: to present our series of thyroidal metastasis, of extra thyroid primary tumors and to report one case of metastasis 23 years after a primary renal tumor.
Material and methods: retrospective study of 1000 thyroidectomies and the histological findings in a General Hospital.
Results: in 1000 thyroidectomies, we found 3 metastases of extrathyroid cancer, 2 renal (male 70 years old with 9 year prior primary, female 73 years old with a primary 23 years before) and a female 74 years old with a primary of uterus operated 5 years earlier. The renal metastases in thyroid were the most common. 
Conclusion: the localization of metastases in thyroid are unusual, but should be considered in patients with history of malignancy carcinomas.