Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with diffuse thoracic skin metastasis: A case report

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive endocrine neoplasm with a poor prognosis.
• Median survival for ATC patients is typically 4-12 months post-diagnosis.
• Metastatic spread in ATC can involve various organs, but cutaneous manifestations are less common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with extensive cutaneous metastases.
• To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and outcome of a patient with advanced ATC and skin lesions.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 57-year-old male patient presenting with neck swelling and dysphagia.
• Diagnostic workup included jugular mass biopsy, imaging for lymphadenopathy, and subsequent skin biopsy.
• Histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments were performed on both primary tumor and skin lesions.

Main Results:

• Biopsy confirmed anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
• Patient presented with advanced-stage lymphadenopathy (subcarinal, paratracheal, aortopulmonary, tracheobronchial, mediastinal).
• Despite initial good prognosis with chemotherapy, the patient developed diffuse skin lesions consistent with metastatic ATC and succumbed shortly after.

Conclusions:

• Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma can present with rare and aggressive cutaneous metastases.
• Skin lesions in ATC patients warrant thorough histopathological evaluation to rule out metastatic disease.
• This case underscores the aggressive nature of ATC and the importance of considering unusual metastatic patterns.