Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with soft tissue metastasis: case report

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has a variable biological behavior, usually producing metastases to lymph nodes, lungs or bones; however, soft tissue metastases are rare. We describe the case of a 78-year-old man who attended the hospital with a painful mass in the right thigh and a history of PTC treated by total thyroidectomy plus radical neck dissection 30 years ago. The magnetic resonance imaging detected a 6 x 4 cm mass. Histopathology reports follicular variant of metastatic PTC. Cases of PTC with soft tissue metastasis are rare and represent a diagnostic challenge.