Metastasis to the choroid plexus from thyroid cancer: case report

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2013;53(11):832-6. doi: 10.2176/nmc.cr2012-0238. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is not a common primary cancer causing intracranial metastasis. Here we report a 74-year-old woman with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrating a 4 cm round, heterogeneously enhancing mass in the trigone of the right lateral ventricle. Systemic screening by computed tomography (CT) examination detected a 20 mm nodule with calcification in the thyroid, multiple well circumscribed nodules in bilateral lung filed, and a bone metastasis to the right dorsal rib. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a hypervascular mass fed from anterior and posterior choroidal arteries. Tumor biopsy via parietal transcortical approach confirmed a thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the choroid plexus. Of the 33 reported cases of choroid plexus metastasis, 14 (42%) are from kidney and 3 (9%) from thyroid cancer, which appears to be overrepresented considering their prevalence among all brain metastasis. There may be seed-and-soil relationship between thyroid cancer and choroid plexus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / radiotherapy
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / surgery
  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Choroid Plexus Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Choroid Plexus Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Choroid Plexus Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cranial Irradiation
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Lateral Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Lateral Ventricles / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningioma / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Seeding
  • Ribs
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes