Thyroid Cancer Brain Metastases and Thyroglobulin

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine cancer. The majority of patients reach long survival rates, but 10-15% of patients show recurrent disease, and 5% have distant metastases. Brain metastases (BMs) from TC are rare and carry high morbidity and mortality.Methods: From January 2010 to December 2015, nearly 400 patients with TC were treated at a tertiary referral center. This study reports the findings of all seven patients with BM, which were compared to historical controls.Results: Male patients and older age are associated with a higher frequency of distant metastases from TC. Among patients with BM, surgical excision when indicated, followed by whole brain radiotherapy, was the treatment associated with longest survival rates. Conclusion:Thyroglobulin was the most useful serum marker to diagnose recurrence or distant disease. High levels of thyroglobulin (mean: 15,029; IQR: 300 -13,687) were mainly associated with BMs.

Metastatic brain lesion as the initial presentation of follicular thyroid carcinoma

“…[ 2 ] Of note, the authors confirmed that surgical resection, followed by whole-brain radiation, significantly improves the overall survival (Mean survival: 46 months vs. 5.6 months). [ 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 ]…”

“…investigated approximately 400 patients with thyroid cancer. [ 2 ] Of which, a total of seven patients were diagnosed with brain metastasis of thyroid origin. [ 2 ] Of the seven patients, follicular thyroid carcinoma was identified in one patient.…”

“…[ 2 ] Of which, a total of seven patients were diagnosed with brain metastasis of thyroid origin. [ 2 ] Of the seven patients, follicular thyroid carcinoma was identified in one patient. [ 2 ] The authors concluded that brain metastasis due to thyroid carcinoma is a rare phenomenon that carries a dismal prognosis.…”

“…[ 2 ] The authors concluded that brain metastasis due to thyroid carcinoma is a rare phenomenon that carries a dismal prognosis. [ 2 ] Of note, the authors confirmed that surgical resection, followed by whole-brain radiation, significantly improves the overall survival (Mean survival: 46 months vs. 5.6 months). [ 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 ]…”

Site-Specific Metastasis and Survival in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: The Importance of Brain and Multi-Organ Disease

“…While in children, sarcomas, neuroblastoma, and germ cell tumors are the most common brain metastasis sources [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. When origin of brain metastases is compared, PTC brain metastases are the least common among other types of cancer [ 33 ]. However, undiagnosed asymptomatic brain metastasis was reported.…”