An unusual presentation of carcinoma lower oesophagus with thyroid metastasis

Carcinoma lower oesophagus metastasizing to thyroid occurs rarely. We report the case of a 56-year-old male who was referred for evaluation of dysphagia in whom such an occurrence has been documeneted. Clinically patient had palpable cervical lymphadenopathy. There was no thyroid swelling. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopic biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma of lower third oesophagus. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from the right cervical lymph node also revealed squamous cell carcinomatous deposits. Patient was then evaluated by integrated whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography using 18F fluorodeoxyglucose which revealed metabolic activity in thyroid gland. Ultrasound guided FNAC from thyroid shown metastatic squamous cell carcinomatous deposits which was further confirmed by imunocytochemistry. We present this case because of its exceedingly rare occurrence and poor prognosis.