A case of scalp metastasis manifested as the presenting sign of thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Cutaneous metastasis from the papillary thyroid carcinoma is rare. An otherwise asymptomatic 57-year-old man presented with a 3 year history of a steadily-enlarging scalp nodule. The histopathologic features showed a complicated pattern of follicular architecture formed by papilliform fibrovascular stroma. The tumor cells stained positive for thyroglobulin. A subsequent thyroid sonogram revealed multiple nodules in both lobes and resection of the thyroid gland identified papillary thyroid carcinoma. The solitary scalp nodule was presenting sign of an occult thyroid carcinoma. We repeat a case of cutaneous metastasis from the papillary thyroid carcinoma.