Sacral metastases in a patient with BRAF V600E+ papillary thyroid carcinoma

Lack of consensus exists on an algorithm to screen for synchronous distant metastases in patients presenting with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A 68-year-old male presented with a 3 cm supraclavicular neck mass. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 1.3 cm left thyroid lobe nodule and 3 cm left level 3 and 4 lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was positive for PTC. Patient underwent total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection with molecular testing confirming BRAF V600E+ PTC. Six weeks post-operatively, he developed left hip pain and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large sacral mass and multiple bony lesions confirmed to be osseous metastases. Given the relatively rapid report of hip pain after surgery, metastases were likely synchronous at presentation and may have been detected with earlier suspicion. Further investigation is necessary to systematically stratify risk of synchronous distant metastases in patients with metastatic PTC.