A case of metastasis to the thyroid gland from a large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the Lung

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) represent one subgroup of large-cell lung cancers. We report a rare case of LCNEC with metastasis to the thyroid gland. A 64-year-old woman with primary lung cancer was treated by surgery and chemotherapy. Histopathology of the resected specimen revealed the diagnosis of LCNEC. Metastases to the brain and endotracheal space occurring several months later were treated by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Two years after the lung surgery, the patient presented with a thyroid tumor suspected to be a metastasis arising from the LCNEC, and a total thyroidectomy was performed. Histopathology of the thyroid tumor revealed features consistent with LCNEC. Until now, about one and half years after the surgery, there has been no evidence of tumor recurrence in the cervical region. The patient is under close follow up.