BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) caused by metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is usually associated with a rapid fatal outcome and should be recognized as a grim prognostic indicator. A standard therapeutic strategy has not been established for this situation. Here, we report a radioiodine-refractory follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) patient in whom a notable decrease of MPE was achieved after treatment with sorafenib.

PATIENT FINDINGS

A 50-year-old patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and resection of recurrence for poorly differentiated FTC followed by radioiodine therapy with a negative whole body scan. One year later, dissection of the inferior lobe of the left lung was performed because two fluorodeoxyglucose-avid nodules were identified; pathological examination revealed a metastatic poorly differentiated FTC. Half a year later, he was referred to our clinic because of cough, thoracic pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. Chest computed tomography showed right lung multiple nodules, left pleural effusion, and left lung collapse with left-sided pleural thickening. We treated him with sorafenib. Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed periodically.

SUMMARY

Symptoms and signs improved dramatically and continuously after initiation of sorafenib treatment. A duration of more than 12 weeks of apparent reduction of pleural effusion was achieved, which was confirmed by consecutive computed tomography examinations. Despite grade 1 alopecia, no other obvious treatment-related adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

As a grim prognostic indicator for patients with DTC, no standard treatment recommendation for pleural effusion exists. Targeted therapy using sorafenib may be an effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of MPE caused by FTC.