Brain metastases secondary to differentiated thyroid cancer: An educational exhibit
1052 Learning Objectives 1. To review the literature regarding brain metastases secondary to differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC); 2. To evaluate and compare the reported responses and survival rates for treatment with surgery, radiosurgery, radioiodine therapy, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combined treatments; 3. To provide guidance for the best recommended treatment regimen(s) from the literature; 4. To examine how the number and location of brain lesions may affect prognosis and survival; 5. To discuss the role of glyercol, mannitol, and steroids prior to and after 131I treatment for brain metastases. The prognosis of patients with DTC is generally very favorable with survivals measured in decades and a morbidity rate in the low single-digits. Due to the various histological subtypes, thyroid cancer tends to metastasize to numerous locations in the body such as lymph nodes, bone, or lungs. While metastases to the brain are uncommon, they are almost always fatal. Occurring in only 0.5% to 1.2% of patients, brain metastases from DTC have a median survival of approximately one year. Due to the low volume of cases, prospective studies are often difficult, and the treatment and management of these patients is often debated. This educational exhibit reviews over 19 articles and 97 reported cases of brain metastases secondary to DTC. The primary objectives of this review are to evaluate and compare the reported responses and survival rates for various treatment modalities, to provide guidance as to the best recommended treatment regimen(s) from the literature, and to examine how the number and location of brain lesions affect prognosis and survival. In addition, this exhibit will discuss the role of glyercol, mannitol, and steroids prior to and after 131I treatment for brain metastases