Thyroid Metastasis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Invasion of the Larynx

Abstract

Carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid is uncommon, and has a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 77-year-old man with thyroid metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with invasion of the larynx. He presented difficulty in swallowing and a tumor on the neck. Computed tomography revealed a tumor in the right lobe of the thyroid with invasion of the larynx. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA) suggested the tumor was a poorly differentiated carcinoma or papillary carcinoma. Although the patient had a metastatic carcinoma from HCC in the lung, he wanted to continue eating orally until he died. A thyroidectomy and total laryngectomy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed a diagnosis of carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid from HCC. Despite use of molecularly targeted therapy, the patient is doing well one year and a half after surgery. Operative therapy may also be useful even for patients with an uncontrollable disease, in order to prevent respiratory and swallowing problems caused by carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid.