Differentiated thyroid cancers diagnosed initially with distant metastasis [Uzak metastaz ile ortaya çikan diferansiye tiroid kanserleri]

Purpose: The aim of this study was established as investigating the patients with differentiated thyroid cancers diagnosed initially with distant metastasis. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 531 patients with differentiated thyroid cancers who were treated and followed up in departments of general surgery and nuclear medicine between February 1997 and February 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There were 9 patients who were initially diagnosed with distant metastasis. The locations of metastases were bone in 7 patients, lungs in 1 patient and scalp In 1 patient. Thyroidectomies were total in 8 patients and near total in one. The types of cancers were papillary in 5 and follicular in four patients. All the patients received radioactive iodine treatment. The median survival time of the nine patients was determined as 103 months. The resections of metastatic lesions in 4 patients with curative intent did not effect survival significantly [p = 0.743). Conclusion: The patients with differentiated thyroid cancers may have long term survival rates with aggressive treatments even with the presence of distant metastasis. Radioactive iodine and thyroidstimulating hormone suppression with thyroxine subsequent to total thyroidectomy constitute the recommended treatment protocol for these kind of patients.