Ocular metastasis from a rare thyroid carcinoma

  • Archimedes Lee Agahan Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of the Philippines Manila
  • Ryner Jose Carrillo Department of Otorhinolaryngology University of the Philippines Manila
  • Peter Mark Chao Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of the Philippines Manila
  • Ramil Lising Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of the Philippines Manila
Keywords: Thyroid cancer, ocular metastasis, choroidal metastasis

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of primary thyroid carcinoma with ocular metastasis.
Methods: This is a case report of a 39-year-old male, who initially presented with a sudden painless loss of vision in the left eye and an anterior neck mass. He was initially diagnosed to have retinal detachment with vitreous hemorrhage based on ocular ultrasound. Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the neck mass initially revealed medullary thyroid carcinoma. Computed topography of the chest and abdominal ultrasound revealed lung and liver metastasis. Whole body bone scintigraphy also revealed bone metastasis.
Results: Patient underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral modified radical neck dissection of the neck mass and vitreous biopsy of the left eye. Histopathology report revealed malignant carcinoma of the thyroid, medullary type while vitreous showed malignant cells from the thyroid. Patient was scheduled to undergo chemotherapy for the widespread metastasis.
Conclusions: Ocular malignancy can present in many ways, thus it is necessary to consider it as a differential for cases of retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage. Choroidal metastasis from malignant thyroid carcinoma is rare, more so the medullary type.

Author Biographies

Archimedes Lee Agahan, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of the Philippines Manila

Clinical Associate Professor

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

University of the Philippines Manila

Ryner Jose Carrillo, Department of Otorhinolaryngology University of the Philippines Manila
Clinical Associate Professor
Ramil Lising, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of the Philippines Manila

Clinical Associate Professor

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

University of the Philippines Manila


Published
2014-10-12
How to Cite
Agahan, A. L., Carrillo, R. J., Chao, P. M., & Lising, R. (2014). Ocular metastasis from a rare thyroid carcinoma. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 14(1), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v14i1.5
Section
Case Reports/Case Series