Type 2 diabetes, one of the most frequent chronic diseases, has an important effect on bone metabolism, with most studies reporting an increased prevalence of fractures in these patients despite an apparently increased bone mineral density. Most probable explanation is an alteration of bone structure/quality with increased fragility but the different diabetes medications influence the risk of fracture. While metformin and incretin-based therapies are safe, thiazolidinediones and canagliflozin (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor) negatively impact bone metabolism and should be avoided in subjects at increased risk of fractures. Insulin and sulphonylureas are generally safe but can increase the risk of hypoglycemia and falls with subsequent traumatic fractures. Their combination should be avoided, especially in elderly subjects.
Thyroid metastasis is atypical. We present a 70-year-old female case that was first diagnosed as gastric cancer after surgical approach. Two years later a thyroidectomy was performed and the immunohistochemistry (IHC) profile revealed a neuroendocrine tumor (NET): poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (with small cells), with positive reaction for SYN, CROMO, negative for calcitonin, TTF1 and thyreoglobulin. The Ki-67 index was 25%. Considering the unusual metastasis, the IHC exam of the stomach tumor was performed pointing the same features as the thyroid findings. This proved that the thyroid tumor was a metastasis from a primary gastric neoplasia. This is an unusual case of NET because of the thyroid involvement. Nevertheless, the IHC exam played the major role in elucidating the diagnosis and the prognosis of the case.
Neuroendocrine Tumors/pathology , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/secondary , Aged , Cell Differentiation , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
