The papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is the most common type of tumor of the thyroid gland with good prognosis and low incidence of distant metastasis. The brain metastases of thyroid gland carcinoma are extremely rare. We report a patient with multiple cystic brain lesions and satisfying criteria for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Brain biopsy revealed brain metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma. The tumor originated from mediastinal thyroid tissue. Even in cases when neuroimaging suggests neurocysticercosis with great accuracy, it is important to exclude metastasis. Extensive brain metastases of primary papillary thyroid carcinoma are extremely rare.
Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; metastasis; neurocysticercosis; papillary thyroid carcinoma.