Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of a uveal metastasis from a follicular thyroid carcinoma

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica Scandinavica 1999-10, Vol.77 (5), p.594-596
• Main Authors: Ritland, J. S., Eide, N., Walaas, L., Høie, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - diagnosis; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - pathology; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - radiotherapy; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - secondary; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy, Needle; Brachytherapy; Female; Humans; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology; Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery; Thyroidectomy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Uveal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uveal Neoplasms - pathology; Uveal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Uveal Neoplasms - secondary; Visual Acuity
• ISSN: 1395-3907; 1600-0420
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0420.1999.770524.x

To report a rare tumour of the eye, and to illustrate the importance of performing a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. An 80-year-old woman suffering from general malaise, dyspnea and abdominal pain was found to have multiple lung metastases, a large tumour in the upper part of the mediastinum, and a large orange-brown tumour (19 x 15 x 11 mm) situated nasally in the left eye. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the uveal tumour and of the goitre was performed. Cytological examination from the two sites disclosed cells compatible with a follicular thyroid carcinoma of oxyfil cell-type. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and has so far had 2 series of 131I therapy. Additionally, the eye tumour was treated locally with a 125I plaque, and three months later the tumour thickness had decreased from 11.0 to 6.4 mm. Best-corrected visual acuity is still unchanged. The patient's general state improved as her dyspnea decreased significantly. The treatment has improved the patient's quality of life, and probably prolonged her life expectancy. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was necessary to establish the diagnosis.