Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the thyroid gland-8 cases reported.
OBJECTIVE
Clinically important, isolated metastases to the thyroid gland is a rare occurrence. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common primary tumor site. We report on 8 cases of late onset metachronous thyroid metastases of RCC.


METHODS
Eight patients presented with metachronous thyroid metastases at a median of 12 years (range 9-18 years) after nephrectomy for RCC. Two patients had simultaneous lung and lymph node metastases, respectively. Four patients had been previously operated for other metastases 1 to 5 years earlier, three of them due to pancreatic metastases. The leading symptom was neck enlargement in all but one case.


RESULTS
Four total thyroidectomies, 3 subtotal resections, and 1 lobectomy were performed. Complete removal of metastases were achieved in all but one case. There was no postoperative morbidity. Six metastases were bilateral, two unilateral. The 4 year overall survival rate following metastasectomy was 53%, median survival from the date of nephrectomy was 21 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term survival can be achieved after resection of isolated metachronous RCC metastases to the thyroid gland. Total thyroidectomy is not required, unless it is necessary for complete metastasectomy.
Iesalnieks
Igors
I
Department of Surgery, University Regensburg, Germany. igors.iesalnieks@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Trupka
Arnold
A
Raab
Maximilian
M
Glockzin
Gabriel
G
Woenckhaus
Matthias
M
Schlitt
Hans Jürgen
HJ
Agha
Ayman
A
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy