Giant sacral metastasis of Hurthle cell thyroid carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature

Overview Management of spinal sacral masses requires a discrete algorithm for both diagnosis and treatment. Here we use a case report to illustrate the importance of biopsy in the management of a sacral mass. In this case, a woman who had been offered an en bloc resection of a sacral mass resembling a chordoma presented to our tertiary care center for a second opinion. A CT guided needle biopsy demonstrated a Hurthle cell thyroid metastatic mass. An interlesional resection of the mass with preservation of bowel and bladder function was performed avoiding a more extensive sacrectomy. The importance of providing a discrete diagnostic algorithm in the workup of sacral tumors is emphasized with this case report. © 2011 Surgisphere Corporation.

Duke Scholars

Author Thomas John Cummings Pathology