Endobronchial mass developing 19 years after total thyroidectomy due to follicular thyroid carcinoma

Intern Med. 2012;51(4):401-3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6375. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

Endobronchial metastasis from thyroid follicular carcinoma is a rare manifestation. We describe a case of 62-year-old woman who underwent total thyroidectomy due to thyroid follicular carcinoma 19 years previously. Computerized tomography and bronchoscopy suggested an endobronchial enhancing nodule in the right bronchus intermedius, resulting in right middle lobe (RML) and right lower lobe (RLL) collapse. A biopsy specimen showed thyroid follicular carcinoma identical to that taken from a specimen previously. She underwent metastectomy and high-dose radioactive iodine ablation therapy. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first case of endobronchial metastasis with a long past history of thyroid follicular carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / surgery
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes

Supplementary concepts

  • Thyroid cancer, follicular