Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Four cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland are reported. Thorough evaluation confirmed these lesions to be of primary thyroid origin rather than from metastasis or direct invasion from contiguous structures. These cases illustrate the aggressive nature of the disease and the propensity for local and distant metastases. The clinicopathologic data presented here underscore the challenge in diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: Case report and systematic review of the literature

“…According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 52 full papers with reporting of 97 cases were screened. Some 17 publications with 48 cases without complete work-up, including CT-scan, panendoscopy, immunohistochemistry and double citations were excluded [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]. Finally, 35 papers and ours reporting on 50 patients were available for analysis [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58].

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

“…SCC of thyroid constitutes less than 1% of thyroid malignancies and has been found fatal within one year of initial diagnosis [2]. The median age is fifth and sixth decade, but can be seen at any age.…”

Primary squamous cell of the thyroid–an abbreviated clinical presentation

“…The more accepted “metaplasia” theory, however, postulates the source of squamous cells to be from follicular, papillary or anaplastic cells [5,10,11]. The most common process of squamous metaplasia, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, has been associated with PSCC of the thyroid in four documented cases [1,10,11]. Given the patient’s previous FNA biopsy and the diagnosis of PSCC clinically, radiographically and histologically, this case likely aligns with previous cases of PSCC in the setting of lymphocytic thyroiditis, which makes this the fifth noted case in literature.…”

“…It has a median age of presentation falling in the fifth and sixth decades of life [1,2]. A foreshortened history of an enlarging mass, pain, and hoarseness are often associated with presentation [3].…”