Uveal metastasis arising from thyroid neoplasms: a systemic review of case reports

Abstract Purpose: We systematically reviewed the case report literature to identify cases of uveal metastases (UM) originating from Thyroid Cancers (TCs) and evaluate this condition's demographic, ophthalmologic, and oncologic characteristics. Methods: Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus databases were searched for case reports or series reporting uveal metastasis originating from a thyroid neoplasm. Articles published in any language from inception through November 2022 were searched and screened independently by two reviewers. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports. Results: A total of 1049 records were detected. After removing duplicates and screening articles based on title, abstract, and full text, 46 cases from 43 studies were identified. The mean (SD) age of patients at the time of UM diagnosis was 56.521 (±15.68) years (range, 20–83 years), and 16 cases (34.78%) were reported in the elderly (˃64 years). Male patients consisted 56.52% (n=26) of the cases. Sixteen cases happened in the right eye, 19 in the left eye, and 11 cases in both eyes. In total, 39 cases (84.78%) had choroidal involvement. Papillary carcinoma was the most reported type of thyroid cancer in the patients (16/46), followed by follicular (15/46) and medullary (10/46) carcinomas of the thyroid. Conclusion: Uveal metastases may appear in metastatic thyroid neoplasms. Therefore, physicians should maintain suspicion when ocular symptoms accompany a neck mass or a history of previous thyroid malignancies.