Thyroid metastasis 21 years after radical nephrectomy: A case report and review of literature

Introduction: The thyroid gland is a highly vascular organ, yet it is an uncommon site for metastasis. Clear cell renal carcinoma is the most frequent site of origin of thyroid metastases and represents 12% to 34% of all secondary thyroid tumors, but cases presenting more than 10 years after nephrectomy are exceedingly rare. This report aims to present a case of 21-year renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with thyroid metastasis in a 60 year old patient who was treated with thyroidectomy and systemic therapy and review the existing literature. Case Report: A 60-year-old female presented with dysphagia and a neck mass 21 years following radical nephrectomy. She was treated with partial thyroidectomy and pathology came to show metastatic RCC with positive safety margin. Conclusion: Metastasis to the thyroid should be considered in any patient with a history of malignancy, especially RCC, even decades after initial treatment. Fine needle aspiration is a crucial diagnostic tool, but immunohistochemical staining is often necessary for a definitive diagnosis.