Anaplastic thyroid tumor as an embolic source of metastasis

Abstract

Tumor-based arterial thromboembolism in patients with cancer is a poorly described concept that lacks evidence for surgical indications owing to its unusual occurrence. The study and understanding of this condition’s etiology is, however, essential because it could constitute the initial presentation or determine the prognosis of oncologic disease. In the present report, we have described the case of a 77-year-old female patient with multiple cerebral, splenic, and upper limb arterial embolic episodes. Embolectomy for acute upper limb ischemia revealed the histopathologic diagnosis of an anaplastic thyroid tumor.

Keywords

• Anaplastic
• Cancer
• Ischemia
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Thyroid carcinoma
• Vascular surgical procedures