Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in the Hand

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid cancer, and metastases can be seen in up to 10% of patients at initial presentation. Metastasis of tumors to the hand is rare. This report describes a patient with painful right thenar and hypothenar masses that were confirmed as metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma after narrow excision. Intraoperatively, the soft tissue masses did not invade the surrounding musculature or neurovascular bundles. There was improved hand pain and no neurovascular deficits postoperatively. Close monitoring with physical examination without additional radiation was recommended by the multidisciplinary endocrine oncology tumor board. This case highlighted the importance of maintaining suspicion for malignant metastasis in hand masses when there is a history of thyroid carcinoma.