Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Objective. We present the case of a 44-year-old man with a large neck mass to highlight the unique presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastatic to the clavicle. Methods. We reviewed the medical record for a detailed history and physical examination findings. Our radiology colleagues...

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Main Authors: Russell Fung, Madeline Fasen, Firas Warda, Patrick Natter, Stacey Nedrud, Rui Fernandes, Ahmad Alkhasawneh, Gunjan Y. Gandhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6662071
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author Russell Fung
Madeline Fasen
Firas Warda
Patrick Natter
Stacey Nedrud
Rui Fernandes
Ahmad Alkhasawneh
Gunjan Y. Gandhi
author_facet Russell Fung
Madeline Fasen
Firas Warda
Patrick Natter
Stacey Nedrud
Rui Fernandes
Ahmad Alkhasawneh
Gunjan Y. Gandhi
author_sort Russell Fung
collection DOAJ
description Objective. We present the case of a 44-year-old man with a large neck mass to highlight the unique presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastatic to the clavicle. Methods. We reviewed the medical record for a detailed history and physical examination findings. Our radiology colleagues examined the diagnostic imaging studies performed. The pathology team reviewed the neck mass biopsy and the confirmatory surgical pathology after total resection of the mass. Results. A 44-year-old man presented with an enlarging neck mass. Initial X-rays revealed a large soft tissue density mass that extended to the midline of the right clavicle. A neck ultrasound established a 5.4 × 3.6 cm mass with increased vascularity and calcification extending from the thyroid. A CT scan noted the extension of the mass into the adjacent sternoclavicular junction with osteolysis of the middle third of the clavicle and the superior aspect of the sternal body. Fine-needle aspiration revealed a thyroid neoplasm with follicular features and positive immunostaining consistent with thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent a composite resection of the tumor, including a segmental osteotomy of approximately two-thirds of the medial clavicle. The pathology report confirmed PTC with extrathyroidal extension and clavicle involvement (staged pT4a pN0), with further genomic findings showing positive KRAS mutation. Conclusion. Clavicular metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer is rare. While the prognosis is generally favorable, various factors, including age greater than 45 years, poor differentiation, follicular thyroid carcinoma, Hurthle cell variant, and extrapulmonary metastasis, have typically been associated with poorer cancer-specific survival.
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spelling doaj-art-bf77885fa1344ba299fc194ab03e2dcc2025-08-20T02:18:58ZengWileyCase Reports in Endocrinology2090-65012090-651X2021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66620716662071Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid CancerRussell Fung0Madeline Fasen1Firas Warda2Patrick Natter3Stacey Nedrud4Rui Fernandes5Ahmad Alkhasawneh6Gunjan Y. Gandhi7Division of Endocrinology, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADivision of Endocrinology, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USADivision of Endocrinology, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USAObjective. We present the case of a 44-year-old man with a large neck mass to highlight the unique presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastatic to the clavicle. Methods. We reviewed the medical record for a detailed history and physical examination findings. Our radiology colleagues examined the diagnostic imaging studies performed. The pathology team reviewed the neck mass biopsy and the confirmatory surgical pathology after total resection of the mass. Results. A 44-year-old man presented with an enlarging neck mass. Initial X-rays revealed a large soft tissue density mass that extended to the midline of the right clavicle. A neck ultrasound established a 5.4 × 3.6 cm mass with increased vascularity and calcification extending from the thyroid. A CT scan noted the extension of the mass into the adjacent sternoclavicular junction with osteolysis of the middle third of the clavicle and the superior aspect of the sternal body. Fine-needle aspiration revealed a thyroid neoplasm with follicular features and positive immunostaining consistent with thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent a composite resection of the tumor, including a segmental osteotomy of approximately two-thirds of the medial clavicle. The pathology report confirmed PTC with extrathyroidal extension and clavicle involvement (staged pT4a pN0), with further genomic findings showing positive KRAS mutation. Conclusion. Clavicular metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer is rare. While the prognosis is generally favorable, various factors, including age greater than 45 years, poor differentiation, follicular thyroid carcinoma, Hurthle cell variant, and extrapulmonary metastasis, have typically been associated with poorer cancer-specific survival.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6662071
spellingShingle Russell Fung
Madeline Fasen
Firas Warda
Patrick Natter
Stacey Nedrud
Rui Fernandes
Ahmad Alkhasawneh
Gunjan Y. Gandhi
Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Case Reports in Endocrinology
title Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
title_full Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
title_fullStr Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
title_short Clavicular Metastasis as an Initial Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
title_sort clavicular metastasis as an initial presentation of papillary thyroid cancer
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6662071
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