Thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the choroid responding to systemic 131I therapy

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.

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.

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

An 83-year-old man was seen with a history of bilateral progressive loss of vision of 1 month's duration. On examination, there was a reddish, nodular lesion adjacent to the right side of the nose. Slit-lamp examination revealed a reddish iris mass in the left eye. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed two orange choroidal lesions in the right eye and a large subretinal hemorrhage in the posterior pole with a central reddish vascular lesion in the left eye. An excisional biopsy of the skin lesion was performed. A diagnosis of metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma was made according to the histopathologic findings and immunohistochemistry. The patient had no known history of thyroid malignancy and a metastatic survey revealed widespread metastasis. The patient had a total thyroidectomy followed by two series of radioactive iodine ablation. The iris lesion completely resolved and the choroidal lesions in the right eye showed partial regression during the follow-up period. Ocular and skin metastasis secondary to thyroid carcinoma is uncommon. In a review of English literature we found reports of 12 clinically well-documented cases of choroidal metastasis and two cases of iris metastasis. Our case and review of the previous cases reveal that reddish/orange color is a commonly observed feature of the uveal metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. Although ocular and skin metastases from thyroid carcinoma are rare, this possibility should be considered in the differential diagnosis of reddish-colored iris and choroidal masses as well as reddish nodular lesions of the scalp, face, and neck.

Choroidal and skin metastases from papillary thyroid cancer: case and a review of the literature

A patient with widely metastatic papillary thyroid cancer who had been previously treated with (131)I and external beam radiation presented with purple nodular lesions on his face and scalp. On biopsy, the nodules were papillary carcinoma with cells that stained for thyroglobulin. Subsequently he developed decreased left eye visual acuity, and fundoscopy revealed lesions typical of choroidal metastases. Dermal and choroidal metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma are both rare. However, the significance of these clinical manifestations may be overlooked and ignored unless the diagnosis is considered. New skin nodules or visual acuity decline in a patient with papillary thyroid cancer may represent manifestations of distant metastatic disease and should prompt thorough evaluation with dermatological examination and fundoscopy. Choroidal and skin metastases have almost always occurred in patients with advanced disease, but initial presentation with these lesions is possible, and in such instances a thorough search for additional sites of metastatic disease is recommended. Occasionally such metastases may respond to (131)I therapy or external beam radiation.

Nuclear endocrinology as a monitoring tool

Malignant endocrine disorders have been an enigma over the last few decades, from genetic, clinical, and imaging perspectives. The detection of the primary tumor and the identification of recurrent disease have been essentially based on various anatomic techniques, with localization procedures extensively developed for staging, follow-up, radio-guided surgery, and therapy. Frequently, the lesions are too small to cause anatomic alterations, or they are obscured by the changes in anatomic planes that occur after initial surgery. Small lesions, however, are the ones that can potentially be cured. Thus, every attempt should be made to localize these sites before further growth and dissemination occur beyond the scope of cure. Since the advent of iodine-131 for staging and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, the search has led to the use of radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) for recurrent pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma, to the development of antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen for the staging and treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma, and to the characterization of peptide receptors on neuroendocrine tumors. Additionally, there has been a breakthrough with the use of positron emitters in nuclear oncology, including F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose, for I-131-negative metastases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma, malignant pheochromocytoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma. Undoubtedly, optimal care of the patient requires both the expertise of the treating endocrinologist and the use of various imaging techniques in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of these diseases.

Management of Ocular Metastasis

BACKGROUND: Intraocular metastasis is a significant clinical problem in patients with metastatic cancer. The frequency of intraocular metastasis in all patients dying of cancer is approximately 12%, but in breast cancer patients, the frequency can be as high as 37%. METHODS: A review of pertinent literature and the author's experience are used to describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of metastatic tumors of the eye. RESULTS: Intraocular metastases occur frequently and are diagnosed by ophthalmologic examination. Radiotherapy remains the cornerstone of therapy and allows the majority of patients to maintain useful vision for the remainder of their lives. CONCLUSIONS: The recognition and treatment of intraocular metastasis are important clinical oncologic issues. With proper management, patients with ocular metastasis can maintain vision and thus maximize quality of life.