Cutaneous manifestations of thyroid cancer: a report of four cases and review of the literature
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Department of Pathology, University Health Network and Toronto Medical Laboratories, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
- Correspondence to: Dr S L Asa Department of Pathology, University Health Network and Toronto Medical Laboratories, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada; sylvia.asauhn.on.ca
- Accepted 11 November 2003
Abstract
Cutaneous metastases from thyroid carcinoma are rare. This report describes four cases of thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the skin. Two cases were medullary carcinoma and two were papillary thyroid carcinoma. In two cases, skin metastases were the presenting feature of the underlying thyroid carcinoma. Examination of the skin lesions by conventional light microscopy suggested the possibility of metastatic carcinoma and immunohistochemical tests confirmed the diagnosis. Subsequent investigations identified primary thyroid lesions. In two cases, the skin metastasis was the first evidence of the recurrence of known thyroid carcinoma. These cases identify a novel presentation of thyroid carcinoma.
