Primary thyroid chondrosarcoma: a case report of an extremely rare malignancy

Abstract

Introduction There are different types of malignant tumors that can affect the thyroid gland where differentiated thyroid carcinomas (papillary and follicular) are the most common representing nearly 90% of cases. Non-epithelial malignancies were also reported to affect the thyroid gland particularly lymphomas and sarcomas that were reported in literature to range from 0.01 to 1.5% of thyroid carcinoma. Herein, we present a case with primary thyroid chondrosarcoma, an extremely rare malignancy of the thyroid gland. Case presentation We present a 79-year-old female patient complaining of hard thyroid swelling that was proved to be primary thyroid chondrosarcoma after histopathological assessment. Conclusion Chondrosarcoma of the thyroid gland is extremely rare either in the primary or metastatic setting. Although the prognosis is bad, surgery is the main line of treatment after early prompt diagnosis.