Papillary thyroid cancer with chest metastases only detected using radioactive iodine.
BACKGROUND
Insufficient information exists on the prognostic factors of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with chest metastases, which is detected only using a radioactive iodide (131I) whole body scan (WBS) but could not be detected using radiographic findings. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features and treatment results of patients with PTC.


METHODS
This retrospective study includes 17 patients diagnosed from 1985 through 2002. The clinical features and responses to treatment were compared between patients with diffuse lung metastases and those with focal lung or mediastinal metastases, and at the end of follow up the results were also compared between disease-free patients and those with persistent chest metastases.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 17 patients was 32.2 +/- 19.1 years. After a mean follow up of 89.6 +/- 51.3 months, all 17 patients survived except for one who died of a non-thyroid-related disease. Six of the 17 patients were disease-free at the end of follow up, and eight of the 17 patients became free of chest metastases. The dose of 131I required to cure chest metastases was higher in the patients with diffuse lung uptake than those with focal chest uptake. The primary tumor size and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level on the first finding of chest metastases differed markedly between disease-free patients and patients with persistent chest metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
131I scans can effectively demonstrate early chest metastases, which are difficult to detect from chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT). The prognosis for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma with chest metastases detectable only using 131I is favorable. Additionally, the low serum Tg level on the first finding of chest metastases and the small size of the primary tumor may have favorable therapeutic outcomes.
Kuo
Sheng-Fong
SF
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Fushing Street, Gueishan Shiang, Taoyuan, Taiwan 333, ROC.
Chen
Szu-Tah
ST
Kao
Pan-Fu
PF
Chang
Yu-Chen
YC
Chou
Shuo-Chi
SC
Lin
Jen-Der
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009929:Organ Size; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes