Abstract
Thirty one patients with bone metastasis of differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid were clinically studied, and the following findings factors were noted. 1) Bone metastasis was frequently found in older patients with ages ranging from 40 to 82 years (the mean: 57.6). 2) After the primary carcinoma was found, most bone metastases occurred within 10 years, particularly within 5 years. 3) Metastatic sites in 60% of these patients involved the spine, with 16 patients having isolated bone metastasis and 15 showing multiple metastatic sites in the bone. 4) Anatomically, metastatic sites of papillary carcinoma occurred more frequently in the thoracic and cervical regions of the spine and in the sternum. Follicular carcinoma tended to metastasize throughout the entire bone system 5) Metastasis involving the spine might greatly contribute to clinical manifestations and the cause of death in these patients. These findings indicate that the spine is the most important site of metastasis in patients having bone metastasis of differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid.
