A patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid intermingled with follicular thyroid carcinoma that remains alive more than 8 years after diagnosis

Mixed primary squamous cell carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland: A case report

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is rare, and mixed squamous cell and follicular carcinoma is even rarer still, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The simultaneous presentation of three primary cancers of the thyroid has not been reported previously. Here we report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid, follicular thyroid carcinoma, and micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. A 62-year-old female patient presented with complaints of pain and a 2-month history of progressively increased swelling in the anterior region of the neck. Fine-needle-aspiration cytology of both lobes indicated the possibility of the presence of a follicular neoplasm. Total thyroidectomy with left-sided modified radical neck dissection was performed. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid follicular carcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid-stimulating hormone suppressive therapy with l-thyroxine was administered. Radioiodine and radiotherapy also were recommended, but the patient did not complete treatment as scheduled. The patient remained alive more than 9 months after operation. The present case report provides an example of the coexistence of multiple distinct malignancies in the thyroid.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Thyroid gland lacks squamous epithelium (except in some rare situations like embroyonic remnants or in inflammatory processes); for that reason the primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of thyroid is extremely rare entity, seen only in less than 1% of all thyroid malignancies and is considered almost fatal. So, far, only few case reports have been published in literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

Herein we present a 54 years old Saudi female with 3 months history of progressive neck swelling and hoarse voice, who was referred to us by her primary care physician as suspected case of anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid for radical external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Fine Needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) neck showed 10 × 10 cm mass in left lobe of thyroid invading trachea and skin. Extensive staging work up ruled out the possibility of any primary site of SCC other than thyroid gland. Tumor was found unresectable and was referred to radiation oncology. She received palliative EBRT 30 Gy in 10 fractions. After completion of EBRT, there was progression of disease and patient died 3 months after completion of EBRT by airway compromise.

CONCLUSION

Primary SCC of thyroid is rare and aggressive entity. FNAC is reliable and effective tool for immediate diagnosis. Surgery is a curative option, but it is not always possible as most of cases present as locally advanced with adjacent organs involvement. EBRT alone was found ineffective. Aggressive combined modality (debulking surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) shall be considered for such cases.

Merged histological types of malignant thyroid tumor: experience and controversy

Malignant tumors of the thyroid that consist of merged histological types are a rare clinical entity, with an obscure pathogenesis and no consensus of opinion on nomenclature. Eight patients with merged histological types of thyroid malignant tumor at a single medical center were enrolled between January 1977 and December 2009. These patients were surgically treated and were followed postoperatively from 1 month to 34 years. Preoperative patient characteristics, B-type ultrasonography, computed tomography scan, thyroid function tests, postoperative pathology, immunohistochemistry, and prognosis data were collected. Merged histological types of thyroid malignant tumor accounted for 0.12% of all thyroid malignant tumors treated during this period. Preoperative imageology and laboratory data have no specific value toward diagnosis of merged histological types of thyroid malignant tumor. Merged histological types of thyroid carcinoma that had undergone radical resection in combination with hormonal therapy and I(131) radiotherapy achieved a satisfactory outcome, while other merged thyroid malignant tumors were usually associated with a poor prognosis. Prognosis depended on the highest grade among an individual group of malignant tumors.