Red lesions of the iris, choroid, and skin secondary to metastatic carcinoma of the thyroid: a review

Primary Tumour Type, Clinical Features, Treatment and Outcome of Patients with Iris Metastasis

PURPOSE

To describe the primary tumour type, clinical features, treatment and outcome of patients with Iris metastasis.

METHODS

Retrospectively analyzed articles published from 1934 to 2019 in the PubMed database.

RESULTS

In total, 133 eyes of 125 patients with iris metastatic carcinoma were retrieved. The average age at metastasis diagnosis of the patients was 56 ± 15 years; 60 left eyes and 49 right eyes were involved. The most common primary tumors were lung carcinoma (42%) and breast carcinoma (15%). Approximately one-third of the patients were first diagnosed in the ophthalmology department before the primary tumor was detected. Twenty-two percent of iris metastases were discovered before and 33% were discovered after systemic metastasis. The most common complaints were blurred vision and pain. The clinical features included iris masses, neovascularization and keratic precipitates. 57 patients (64%, N = 90) had an elevated intraocular pressure. Local administration of radiation therapy or intraocular injections of anti-VEGF drugs relieved eye discomfort and controlled the high intraocular pressures.

CONCLUSIONS

Iris nodules with increased intraocular pressure and neovascularization may indicate iris metastasis. Lung cancer is the most common primary tumor.

Thyroid and Eye: Where They Meet in Clinical Practice

OBJECTIVE

Thyroid Hormones (TH) are essential for normal growth, development and continued optimal function of most of the body organs including the eye. TH signaling plays a central role in the regulation of retinal development and maturation. Deficiency in TH during fetal and early postnatal development impairs growth of the eye and proliferation of all retinal cell types. The present article reviews the most important topics of the different derangements in thyroid function and structure and its relation with eye diseases.

METHODS

A literature search strategy was conducted for all English-language literature.

RESULTS

From a clinical practice viewpoint, it should be mentioned that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are accompanied by ocular diseases i.e. thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Although the orbit and globe are not common sites for metastatic thyroid cancers, orbital metastasis may be the primary clinical manifestation of thyroid carcinoma. Finally, some medications as amiodarone may be accompanied by both thyroid dysfunction and adverse ocular events.

CONCLUSION

Thyroid disorders and eye diseases are interrelated through several mechanisms thus, awareness of this relation has a great impact on early diagnosis and treatment.

Unusual Sites of Metastatic and Benign I 131 Uptake in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most common pathological type of thyroid carcinoma, which includes papillary and follicular subtypes. DTC is usually indolent, characterized by good prognosis, and long-term survival. Total thyroidectomy is the mainstay of treatment in DTC which is followed by diagnostic whole body 131I (WBI) scan. Like other primary malignancies of the head and neck, DTC follows a consistent pattern of spread in the cervical LNs. The central compartment, level VI and VII, is the first sentinel node followed by spread to the lateral compartments levels II-V, followed by the contralateral side. Inspite of nodal involvement, DTC usually have a favourable outcome. Presence of extrapulmonary distant metastases could predict a poor prognosis for high-dose ¹³¹I therapy. However, distant metastasis occurs often as a grave event and mortality rates vary depending on metastatic sites.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

A range of rare ¹³¹I concentrating DTC deposits in sella, orbit, choroid, skeletal muscles, liver, skin, costochondral soft tissue, pancreas and kidney, and a few benign ¹³¹I concentrating sites are being depicted.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Metastatic sites from DTC can be easily identified by performing a whole body ¹³¹I (WBI) scan along with a stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) estimation (TSH >30 uIU/ml). Apart from thyroid and thyroid-related diseases, certain benign non-thyroidal pathologies can concentrate radioiodine (¹³¹I). From 13,000 of our patients who underwent radioiodine scan for thyroid cancer, we have selected a few cases of ¹³¹I concentrating benign and malignant lesions for illustration.

RESULTS

Out of 13000 DTC patients who underwent whole body ¹³¹I scintigraphy in our department from Jan 2007 till Mar 2018, 25 patients revealed benign sites of ¹³¹I uptake. 61 % patients had residual thyroid tissue with or without associated nodal involvement. Remaining patients had distant metastases. Rare sites of functioning thyroid metastases and benign sites of I 131 uptake have been selected for illustration.

CONCLUSION

Apart from the WBI (two-dimensional, planar) images, single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) has been incremental in localizing benign lesions which greatly depends on their location. This pictorial review highlights the need to create an awareness to detect metastatic deposits of DTC at unexpected sites. Otherwise patients will need further investigation to rule out unsuspected sites of functioning distant metastases.

Unusual Case of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Choroidal Metastasis

BACKGROUND

The choroid is a rare site of thyroid cancer metastases, and has been described in patients with evidence of advanced breast, lung, and prostate carcinomas. To the authors' knowledge, only seven reported cases exist with choroidal metastasis secondary to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study describes an additional patient with metastatic PTC with simultaneous appearance of choroidal mass and cutaneous deposits while on systemic therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). These infrequent sites of metastasis are typically associated with a dismal prognosis following the diagnoses. However, this patient has not shown evidence of choroid or cutaneous recurrence one year following local targeted and systemic therapy.

PATIENT FINDINGS

The case is presented of a 70-year-old male with widely metastatic PTC to the lymph nodes, lung, and mediastinum who was found to have choroidal metastasis six years after his initial diagnosis.

SUMMARY

The patient was asymptomatic and was found to have an incidental right choroidal mass on routine ophthalmology exam. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit revealed an isolated right choroid lesion suspicious for melanoma or metastasis. Concurrent to this discovery, he was noted to have progression of the lung and mediastinal disease along with new dermal lesions on the chest wall suspicious for dermal metastasis. Both the choroid and dermal metastases occurred while being on a TKI. Given his previous history of male breast carcinoma, a biopsy of the choroid was performed, which confirmed PTC. The patient developed endophthalmitis and subsequently underwent enucleation of the right eye. The choroid mass was completely excised, measured 3.5 mm×9.5 mm with negative margins, and histopathology was consistent with metastatic PTC. Pulmonary, mediastinal, and cutaneous lesions regressed after external beam radiation therapy, following which systemic therapy was changed to a different multikinase inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

A rare and unique case is reported of choroidal metastasis from PTC that presented with concurrent new dermal metastasis in addition to lung and mediastinal lymph node progression. Furthermore, the patient developed choroid and dermal lesions while on a TKI and remained stable without recurrence in these regions after switching to an alternate multikinase inhibitor.

[Uveal metastasis of thyroid carcinomas. About 3 cases]

OBJECTIVE

To study the characteristics of ocular metastases of thyroid carcinomas through three observations of patients.

RESULTS

Three patients aged respectively 41, 55 and 66 years were followed for thyroid carcinoma. All patients were treated by surgery followed by IRA therapy. They developed ocular metastases after a mean period of 10 years after thyroidectomy. They presented in addition multiple secondary sites such as bone, lungs and cerebrum. The uveal lesion was unilateral and localized at the choroid or iris. The predominant symptomatology was decreased visual acuity. The diagnosis was based on ophthalmoscopic examination and post-IRA therapy scan and was confirmed by anatomopathological study. Treatment options were respectively IRA therapy, sectoral iridectomy and enucleation. Evolution was fatal in 2 cases and towards aggravation for one case.

CONCLUSION

Uveal metastases of thyroid cancer are associated with a pejorative prognosis. Ophthalmologic follow-up is necessary when patient presents warning sign mainly with metastatic follicular carcinoma. Conversely, thyroid carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a uveal mass of unknown origin.

Iodophilic synchronous phalangeal and choroidal metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma: a case report and review

BACKGROUND

Follicular thyroid cancers constitute 15-20% of all thyroid tumors. The usual mode of dissemination is via the hematogenous route. The most common sites of distant metastasis are to the lungs and bones.

OBJECTIVE

A case is presented to demonstrate the unusual presentation of follicular cancer with synchronous digital (distal phalanx of the little finger) and choroidal metastasis that was responsive to radioiodine treatment.

CASE REPORT

A 54-year-old female presented with swelling over the terminal part of the left little finger with thyromegaly. Investigations revealed metastasis from follicular thyroid cancer to the little finger along with pulmonary metastases. She underwent total thyroidectomy with central compartment clearance followed by (131)I therapy. Subsequent follow-up demonstrated complete regression of the digital metastasis and partial regression of the choroidal metastasis which was evaluated after the radioiodine scan that picked up the choroidal metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Follicular thyroid cancers can rarely spread to unusual sites like the digits and choroid. This report highlights the synchronous presentation of digital and choroidal metastasis which responded to (131)I therapy.

Choroidal metastasis from follicular cell thyroid carcinoma masquerading as circumscribed choroidal haemangioma

Choroidal metastases from follicular thyroid carcinoma are uncommon and usually present as an amelanotic lesion against a background of known systemic disease. We present the case of a 56-year-old woman with a thyroid metastatic focus with unusual clinical presentation, systemic involvement, and early response to systemic treatment. A review of the literature accompanies this case presentation.

[Panuveitis associated with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid]

Ocular involvement secondary to thyroid carcinomas is uncommon. Uveal metastasis may occur. More rarely, they can be responsible for paraneoplastic syndromes. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman who presented with a severe bilateral panuveitis with venous vasculitis associated with hyperthyroidism from a multinodular goiter, complicated by papillary carcinoma. Systemic steroid therapy was initiated; ocular symptoms resolved completely after total thyroidectomy. Other causes of panuveitis with venous vasculitis were ruled out. This is the first reported case of panuveitis associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The occurrence of the ocular symptoms with hyperthyroidism and their remission after surgery supports the possibility that this association may not be coincidental. A paraneoplastic phenomenon is suspected.

Choroidal and orbital metastases from thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Metastases of thyroid carcinomas to the choroid and/or orbit are infrequent. PubMed was searched for English-language articles and case reports published from 1977 to 2012. In our survey, we looked for reports of orbital and/or ocular metastases from the thyroid and found 31 reported cases from 1979 to 2012.

SUMMARY

At the time of onset of ocular symptoms, the vast majority of patients had a long history of thyroid malignancy and evidence of widely disseminated metastatic disease. The age of the reported patients ranged from 29 to 83 years. Among the 22 reported cases of thyroid carcinomas with metastases to the choroid from 1979 to 2012, the most common primary tumor was papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC); this occurred in seven patients. This was followed by medullary thyroid carcinoma in six cases and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) in five cases. Orbital metastases were reported in nine patients with thyroid carcinomas (PTC=4, FTC=3, Hürthle cell=1, not specified=1). Patients with choroidal metastases presented with decreased or blurred vision, eye pain, and flashes in 81%, 5%, and 5% of cases, respectively. The diagnosis of a choroidal tumor was usually based on noninvasive diagnostic techniques such as ultrasonography, transillumination, computer tomography (CT), and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. ¹³¹I scanning revealed uptake in the orbit in 26% of cases with choroidal and/or orbital PTC or FTC. For a metastasis that causes a definitive loss of vision and/or persistent pain, the treatment of choice was enucleation. The other treatment options were brachyradiotherapy using ¹²⁵I episcleral radioactive plaque insertion, external beam radiation, ¹³¹I therapy, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapy with small molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

The orbit and globe are not common sites for metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Diagnosis of a choroidal tumor is usually based on clinical judgment and results of noninvasive diagnostic techniques such as ultrasonography, transillumination, CT, and/or MRI scanning. Fundoscopic examination and ocular ultrasonography by an ophthalmologist are recommended for identification and monitoring of choroidal metastatic deposits.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma: bilateral choroidal metastases with extrascleral extension

Here, we present the case of a patient with bilateral choroidal metastases with extraocular extension in one eye. Metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma to the uvea is extremely rare, with only 6 patients reported in the literature. A 62-year-old man with a prior history of papillary thyroid carcinoma suffered the rapid loss of vision in his right eye. He had neovascular glaucoma, total retinal detachment, and a solitary choroidal mass. A month later, his left visual acuity also decreased because of a small macular choroidal mass. The right eye was enucleated and a nodular lesion over the sclera representing extraocular extension was observed. This tumor and the intraocular lesion were composed of papillary excrescences and cystic spaces and stained positively for thyroid transcription factor 1 and thyroglobulin, all confirming the diagnosis of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The tumor in the left eye was successfully treated with diode laser transpupillary thermotherapy. The patient expired within a month as a result of widespread pulmonary metastases. Papillary thyroid carcinoma may metastasize to the uvea bilaterally, cause rapid visual function loss, erode the sclera, and may extend outside the globe similar to choroidal melanoma. This aggressive ocular involvement was associated with a dismal prognosis in our patient.

Intraocular and orbital metastasis as a rare form of clinical presentation of insular thyroid cancer

Insular carcinoma of thyroid is a rare tumor, which accounts for 4 to 6% of thyroid malignancies. Clinically and morphologically it is considered to be in an intermediate position between well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid (papillary or follicular) and undifferentiated or anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. Capsular and blood vessel invasion is seen frequently, and metastases to regional lymph nodes, lungs and bones are common. The initial presentation of distant metastasis in patients with thyroid cancer is rare. Thus metastatic thyroid carcinoma rarely involves the orbit. We report a rare case of choroidal metastasis from insular thyroid carcinoma.

A multimodal approach to the treatment of bilateral choroidal metastases from thyroid carcinoma

A 58-year old man, affected by metastatic thyroid carcinoma, experienced a progressive bilateral visual impairment. Ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of a choroidal mass with an associated exudative retinal detachment in both eyes. Twelve years before, a diagnosis of metastatic thyroid carcinoma had been established and the patient had been subject to several therapeutic procedures.

In May 2007, he received a radiotherapy treatment to the left eye with an episcleral plaque and bilateral bulbar injection of bevacizumab. The patient had a rapid and stable visual acuity recovery. Twenty months after treatment, the lesion treated with radiotherapy was still stable whereas the contra-lateral lesion had evolved and determined a vitreal hemorrhage.