Intramedullary spinal cord and brain metastases from thyroid carcinoma detected 11 years after initial diagnosis--case report.

A 60-year-old male presented with a rare intramedullary spinal cord metastasis from thyroid carcinoma manifesting as rapidly worsening motor and sphincter disturbances. The primary tumor had been treated 11 years previously. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly revealed the hemorrhagic tumor localized in the thoracic spinal cord and an associated, asymptomatic metastasis in the cerebellum. The hypervascular tumors were totally removed. The histological diagnosis was papillary adenocarcinoma. He has been stable for 2 years postoperatively. Surgical resection of intramedullary metastasis should be considered in patients with less malignant tumors such as thyroid carcinoma, especially when accompanied by progressive compression myelopathy.