Thyroid metastases from cervical carcinoma: unusual implications for clinicians-case report

Thyroid metastases from uterine cervical carcinoma are exceedingly rare. Imaging examination and pathological detection exert a pivotal function in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid tumors, as well as differentiating metastases from primary thyroid cancer.

Here, we present two cases of uterine cervical cancer metastasizing to the thyroid gland, confirmed by postoperative histopathology at our hospital. Furthermore, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the imaging appearances, pathological characteristics, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the disease through a review of relevant literature. The two cases do not exhibit specific laboratory indicators, making imaging examinations important auxiliary tools, while pathology remains the gold standard for diagnosis.

Although thyroid malignancies predominantly arise as primary tumors, it's crucial to consider the possibility of metastases in patients with a history of cancer. Metastases to the thyroid are relatively uncommon but can occur, particularly in advanced stages of other cancers. Poor outcomes of thyroid metastases from cervical carcinoma have presented significant hurdles for clinicians. Surgical excision of metastatic thyroid cancer may serve as an alternative, offering relief from compression symptoms and prolonging survival to some extent. Further studies are crucially needed to optimize clinical outcomes of the disease.