Notable decrease of malignant pleural effusion after treatment with sorafenib in radioiodine-refractory follicular...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) indicates a poor prognosis.
• No standard treatment exists for MPE in DTC.
• Radioiodine-refractory follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) poses significant therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

• A patient with metastatic, radioiodine-refractory FTC presented with MPE, cough, thoracic pain, nausea, and appetite loss.
• Imaging revealed multiple lung nodules, left pleural effusion, and lung collapse.
• The patient received sorafenib for treatment.

Findings:

• Sorafenib treatment led to dramatic and continuous improvement in symptoms and signs.
• Computed tomography confirmed a significant reduction in pleural effusion lasting over 12 weeks.
• The patient experienced only grade 1 alopecia, with no other significant adverse events.

Implications:

• Targeted therapy with sorafenib shows potential as an effective treatment for MPE in FTC.
• Sorafenib may offer a new therapeutic avenue for patients with advanced, refractory DTC.
• Further research is warranted to establish sorafenib's role in managing MPE in DTC.