Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Presenting With Solitary Bony Metastases to the Frontal Bone of the Skull

Christy M Moen; Richard B Townsley

doi:10.7759/cureus.18735

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Presenting With Solitary Bony Metastases to the Frontal Bone of the Skull

Cureus. 2021 Oct 13;13(10):e18735. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18735. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Authors

Christy M Moen¹, Richard B Townsley²

Affiliations

¹ Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), University Hospital Crosshouse, Glasgow, GBR.
² Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, GBR.

Abstract

A 75-year-old lady was referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) team with a painless swelling in the midline of her forehead. Investigations diagnosed it as a solitary metastasis of thyroid cancer. Follicular thyroid cancers are known to metastasise to bone; however, bony metastasis to the frontal bone of the skull is very rare. This case highlights how the effective use of a multidisciplinary team can lead to better patient outcomes. The patient went on to have a total thyroidectomy and received both radioactive iodine therapy and radiotherapy to the bony metastasis.

Keywords: bony metastasis; cancer; diagnosis and management of bony lesions in maxillo facial region; ent; metastasis; oncology; otolaryngology; rare head and neck; thyroid cancer.

Publication types

Case Reports