Spinal Metastasis as Presenting Feature of Follicular Type Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Aim: Follicular type thyroid carcinoma (FTC) rarely presented with spinal metastasis. We aimed to report such a case and to review the literature. Material and Methods: A 45 year old male with L2 metastasis of FTC was reported, and other 26 cases were found in literature. Characteristics of the patients and tumors were evaluated. Results: Total 27 patients were 55.2±15 years of age, and male/female ratio was 12/15. Nineteen patients had paresis of extremities, 9 of them could not mobilize on admission. Total resection of the spinal tumor was performed in 14 cases and subtotal resection in 5. Radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) was added in 20 cases with or without other adjuvant treatment. Twenty-three patients were followed for 43.7±53.2. Only four of them died 214, 66, 36 and 7 months after their presentations. Out of other 19 cases, 13 were neurologically normal. Type of surgery (total resection versus others) the only factor affecting outcome. In the patients treated with total resection, outcome was statistically better. Conclusions: Spinal metastasis as initial finding is very rare in the patients with FTC. However, prognosis is quite well with total tumor resection and adjuvant treatment. This cancer type must be kept in mind for differential diagnosis and must be screened in the patients with spinal tumors.