Skin Metastasis Occurring 30 Years After Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Cureus. 2022 Feb 13;14(2):e22180. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22180. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Abstract

The skin is an extremely rare site of metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and is linked to underlying disseminated malignancy, which reflects a dismal prognosis. We present the case of a 70-years-old Saudi female who presented at our clinic with an eight-month history of two painful and itchy skin nodules over the scalp and the medial aspect of the right arm. She had a history of total thyroidectomy for PTC 30 years prior. Computed tomography-positron emission tomography showed multiple fluorodeoxyglucose avid lung and skeletal metastases. This case highlights the fact that skin nodules in a patient with a history of PTC should be assessed carefully with a high suspicion of skin metastasis to avoid any delay in treatment.

Keywords: diagnosis; metastasis; papillary thyroid carcinoma; skin; treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports