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Case Report

Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Jiahua Chen
    • Mi Zhang
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 541002, P.R. China
  • Article Number: 573
    |
    Published online on: October 6, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15319
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Abstract

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common form of thyroid cancer However, distant metastases from this cancer are not common. Bone metastases occur in 1‑7% of all PTC cases. Femoral metastases from thyroid cancer can lead to serious complications, such as fractures. The present report presents the case of a 53‑year‑old female patient who was admitted to Nanxishan Hospital (Guilin, China) with left hip pain and a limited range of motion that had persisted for 16 h after a fall. CT and MRI revealed an intertrochanteric fracture of the left femur. Further investigation (thyroid ultrasound scan, thyroid function tests, a lung CT scan and postoperative pathology tests) revealed thyroid cancer with bone metastases, hyperthyroidism and lung metastases. The patient underwent a left femoral head replacement and femoral tumor resection. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed femoral metastasis of PTC (the patient did not undergo any further treatment after surgery and the tumour has not progressed since then). The present case highlights a rare PTC metastasizing to the femur and causing a fracture, suggesting that the possibility of malignant metastasis should be considered in patients presenting with fractures. Furthermore, the present report contributes to deepening the understanding into the metastatic patterns of PTC and highlights the importance of early, aggressive therapeutic intervention in patients with PTC. In conclusion, patients with PTC, especially those presenting with fracture symptoms, should be thoroughly evaluated to rule out the possibility of bone metastasis and appropriate therapeutic measures should be taken in a timely manner.
View Figures

Figure 1

(A) MRI revealing a pathological
fracture of the left femur (arrow). (B) CT demonstrating small
displacement of the left femoral neck and pathological fracture
(the white circle indicates the intrauterine device retained within
the patient's body. The arrow points to a fracture of the upper
segment of the left femur, with slight separation and displacement
of the fracture ends). (C) Ultrasonography revealing a multinodular
thyroid (arrow) consistent with Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data
System grade 5. (D) Histopathological analysis confirming bone
metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (Hematoxylin and Eosin
staining; magnification, ×40).

Figure 2

(A) Lung CT revealed nodules of
variable sizes in both lungs. (B) Postoperative radiography (the
image shows the patient's left hip X-ray taken 2 days after left
artificial femoral head replacement and tumour resection
surgery).
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Chen J and Zhang M: Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report. Oncol Lett 30: 573, 2025.
APA
Chen, J., & Zhang, M. (2025). Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report. Oncology Letters, 30, 573. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15319
MLA
Chen, J., Zhang, M."Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report". Oncology Letters 30.6 (2025): 573.
Chicago
Chen, J., Zhang, M."Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report". Oncology Letters 30, no. 6 (2025): 573. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15319
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Chen J and Zhang M: Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report. Oncol Lett 30: 573, 2025.
APA
Chen, J., & Zhang, M. (2025). Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report. Oncology Letters, 30, 573. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15319
MLA
Chen, J., Zhang, M."Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report". Oncology Letters 30.6 (2025): 573.
Chicago
Chen, J., Zhang, M."Papillary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the femur as a rare cause of femoral fracture: A case report". Oncology Letters 30, no. 6 (2025): 573. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15319
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