Case Study: An Old Male with Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma
Background: Undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (or anaplastic thyroid cancer) rises from the follicular thyroid epithelium but it lacks the distinctive differentiation characteristics of the thyroid gland. This cancer is considered as the most aggressive types of thyroid malignancy.
Clinical history: 61 years male, metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Histopathological reports (April 2017) expected high grade undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma. Multiple surgeries 2017–2020. The patient is on oral chemotherapy. FDG PET/CT was recommended for disease evaluation.
Our Findings: This is an abnormal FDG PET/CT study.
Status post total thyroidectomy without hypermetabolic residual or recurrent disease.
Hypermetabolic lymph nodes are seen over thoracic inlet and left proximal paratracheal region.
Extensive hypermetabolic and osteolytic bony metastasis involving axial and appendicular skeleton (destructive lesions with soft tissue component are seen over right occipital bone with intracranial extension and superior alveolar ridge anteriorly).
No evidence of hypermetabolic hepatic, splenic, adrenal or pulmonary metastasis.
