Neurological deficit as a presentation of occult metastatic thyroid carcinoma

Three cases of occult metastatic thyroid carcinoma presenting with neurological deficits are reviewed. In each case the patient's initial presentation was with symptoms of neurological deficiency secondary to a spinal cord compression. All patients received a combination of surgery, external beam radiotherapy and postoperative thyroxine treatment. Two of the three patients are alive and well, able to mobilize with minor neurological dysfunction. The diagnosis and management of the patients, as well as their outcomes are reviewed, with a discussion on further management issues alongside a review of the current published work.