Miliary metastases – CXR

Miliary metastases. This 24 year old woman was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The CXR shows innumerable tiny nodules throughout both lungs. This appearance is called a ‘miliary’ pattern, and can be caused by metastatic disease, most commonly originated in the thyroid as in this case, as well as TB and some pneumoconioses such as silicosis.