Soft tissue metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosed by 18F FDG PET-CT / Metástases em tecidos moles de câncer de tireoide diagnosticadas por 18F FDG PET-CT

ABSTRACT

Distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer are unusual; lung and bones are the most frequently affected sites. Soft tissue metastases (STM) are extremely rare. We describe two cases of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer metastasizing to soft tissues. Both patients had widespread metastatic disease; clinically asymptomatic soft tissue metastases were found by 18-Fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F FDG PET-CT), and confirmed by cytological and/or histopathological studies. These findings underscore the ability of 18F FDG PET-CT in accurately assessing the extent of the disease, as well as the utility of the method to evaluate regions of the body that are not routinely explored.

RESUMO

As metástases a distância em carcinoma diferenciado de tireoide são raras. Pulmão e ossos são os lugares mais frequentemente atingidos. As metástases em tecidos moles são extremamente infrequentes. Neste artigo, descrevemos dois casos de pacientes com câncer diferenciado de tireoide com metástases em tecidos moles. Ambos os pacientes padeciam de enfermidade avançada. As metástases em partes moles foram assintomáticas e detectadas mediante 18-Fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F FDG PET-CT), sendo confirmadas por citologia e/ou histopatologia. Esses achados ressaltam o valor do 18F FDG PET-CT para a avaliação correta da extensão da enfermidade e a utilidade do método para avaliar regiões do corpo que não são exploradas nos estudos de rotina.