title: Malignant melanoma with synchronous thyroid metastases: case report and literature review.
abstract: Thyroid metastases are rare in clinical practice. We describe the case of an 85-year-old woman who was referred to our department due to a multinodular goiter with compressive symptoms and subclinical hyperthyroidism. The patient was also undergoing evaluation for a polyp in her left nasal cavity, which was then diagnosed as a malignant melanoma of the nasal mucosa. A thoracoabdominal magnetic resonance imaging obtained for cancer staging revealed a > 50% tracheal obstruction caused by the goiter. The patient underwent simultaneous total thyroidectomy and melanoma excision. Histological analysis of the thyroid showed the presence of multiple metastatic foci from the melanoma. Due to the patient's age, a decision was made to maintain her under surveillance and administer palliative treatment if necessary. Although metastases to the thyroid are rare, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions in patients with a known primary tumor. The thyroidectomy, performed in this patient's case, allowed the diagnosis of the metastases and relief of compressive symptoms caused by the goiter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Manuel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belo
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capela-Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy