Surgical treatment of metastatic disease in the thyroid gland

Abstract

Metastatic disease in the thyroid gland is uncommon in clinical practice. Preoperative investigation with thyroid scan and fine-needle aspiration biopsy verified or strongly suggested metastatic disease in seven out of nine patients. All patients were treated by thyroid surgery. Three patients died within 4 months in disseminated disease. The remaining seven patients had a survival rate of between 1 and 5 years. Three patients are still alive 12, 29, and 48 months after thyroid surgery. Surgical treatment for metastatic disease in the thyroid, especially due to metastatic renal carcinoma and melanoma, is recommended.