A case of thyroid metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer

Tumori. 2011 Sep-Oct;97(5):24e-6e. doi: 10.1177/030089161109700525.

Abstract

Aims and background: Thyroid metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare occurrence. We report a case of thyroid metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma with a review of the literature.

Methods: In April 2007 a 59-year-old man was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma; in October 2009 he underwent a thyroid biopsy that revealed G2 infiltrating spinocellular carcinoma with lymph node involvement. He was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy at our institute.

Results: Currently, after 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with taxotere and gemcitabine, the patient is asymptomatic with stable disease and improved quality of life.

Conclusion: According to the literature, the treatment choice depends on clinical disease extent. Surgery and/or chemo-radiation therapy must therefore be tailored to the individual patient in order to improve clinical outcome and quality of life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma / secondary*
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Docetaxel
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Quality of Life
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Taxoids
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Docetaxel
  • Gemcitabine