Solitary metastatic deposit in the mandible from follicular thyroid carcinoma

Nevena Manevska; Tanja Makazlieva; Sinisa Stojanoski; Ilir Vela; Selim Komina

doi:10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_83_19

Solitary metastatic deposit in the mandible from follicular thyroid carcinoma

World J Nucl Med. 2020 Jul 1;19(3):291-295. doi: 10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_83_19. eCollection 2020 Jul-Sep.

Authors

Nevena Manevska¹, Tanja Makazlieva¹, Sinisa Stojanoski¹, Ilir Vela², Selim Komina³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Pathophysiology and Nuclear Medicine, Acad Isak S. Tadzer, Medical Faculty, University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia.
² Clinic for Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia.
³ Institute of Pathology, Medical faculty, University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia.

Abstract

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is the second most common cancer of the thyroid, after papillary carcinoma. Oral metastasis arising from FTC is very rare. Mandible is more commonly affected than maxilla, with the premolar-molar region being the most frequent site of metastasis. We present the case of a 68yearold female, with swelling in the region of the parotid gland, complaining of periodic rightsided pain in the temporomandibular joint, which occurred most often in the morning with numbness and pain, and difficulty in opening the mouth. After ultrasound and X-ray, the patient was operated and the pathohistological finding was in favor of metastasis of FTC. After 3 months, a total thyroidectomy was performed, and FTC was detected in the right thyroid lobe. Laboratory results were as follows: FT₄ = 9.92 pmol/L, thyroid-stimulating hormone = 9.9 mIU/L, and hTG >300 μg/L. Bone scan showed no bone metastasis. Radioablation with ¹³¹I of 150 mCi was given to the patient, followed by substitutional therapy with levothyroxine. Mandible metastasis as a single skeletal deposit from follicular thyroid carcinomas is a rare clinical finding. Maxillofacial surgeons should consider and rule out thyroid pathology before performing operation of tumor formation in the mandible region. If feasible, surgical-based treatment options offer the best survival outcomes.

Keywords: Follicular thyroid carcinoma; mandible metastasis; radioiodine.

Publication types

Case Reports