Occult Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting as a Huge Mediastinal Cystic Metastasis / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

The initial presentation of distant metastases in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma is quite rare. Most distant metastases are solid nodular lesions. A 67-year-old man who complained of severe dyspnea underwent surgery due to a large mediastinal cystic mass compressing the trachea and great vessels. Pathologically, the cystic mass was a metastatic thyroid papillary carcinoma. The thyroid evaluations were compatible with a well differentiated thyroid carcinoma. An occult thyroid carcinoma presenting as a large mediastinal cystic lesion is extremely rare.