title: Post-thyroidectomy metastatic thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this paper is to highlight the importance of tissue biopsy for histopathological diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A report of a 46-year-old farmer with post-thyroidectomy metastatic thyroid cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A post-thyroidectomy patient presenting with extensive skull and lumbar spine metastasis, paraparesis, huge occipital swelling and good healed scar without tumour residue. The thyroidectomy specimen was not subjected to histopathological diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the occipital swelling revealed metastatic follicular carcinoma. Patient was placed on thyroxine 0.5mg daily with great improvement of lower limb muscle power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These bony metastases could have been reduced if proper investigation was done. There is need for continuous medical education for all clinical medical personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nggada
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gali
authors.forename: M I A
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Khalil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009549:Nigeria; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods