BACKGROUND: The incidence of metastasis to the thyroid gland is extremely rare, with hemorrhage being a particularly uncommon manifestation of metastatic thyroid disease.

CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old man who underwent a right nephrectomy for RCC 8 years ago was referred to the Emergency Department (ED) complaining of upper-chest pain radiating to the left shoulder, tachycardia, and increased dysphonia. An enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan suggested a thyroid mass originating from both thyroid lobes, with right deviation of the trachea due to active bleeding. The patient underwent an emergency total thyroidectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed metastasis of an RCC.

CONCLUSIONS: Active bleeding of the thyroid gland is a formal indication for emergency surgical management. In patients with a history of cancer, especially in cases of RCC, metastatic disease should be suspected, although in most cases the final diagnosis can only be made after surgery.

Keywords: Carcinoma, Renal Cell, Goiter, Thyroidectomy