Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid

Abstract

Eight cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid are reviewed. The clinical features and natural history of our cases are presented. All tumours showed an aggressive biological behaviour. Two patients showed association with well-differentiated thyroid cancer. It is difficult to conclude whether these tumours are de novo occurrences or were a result of a complete replacement of a previously existing condition after a change in histologic character.

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland With Eggshell Calcification

“…In addition to papillary cell carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma and follicular cell carcinoma with this particular calcification have also been reported. 7,9,10 To our knowledge, a case of primary thyroid SCC with eggshell calcification has not been reported previously. We diagnosed it as malignancy before surgery on the basis of the presence of peripheral hypoechoic soft tissue and disruption of the eggshell calcification, consistent with the findings of Kim et al 5 Squamous cell epithelium may appear in a normal thyroid gland and in various pathologic conditions, both non-neoplastic and neoplastic.…”

Palliative radiation in primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid: A rare case report

“…The evaluation therefore usually involves a combination of endoscopy and radiographic examination by computed tomography to rule out the neighboring or metastatic carcinoma. [4],[9] In our patient, we could not perform biopsy because there was encasement of major vessels and the diagnosis was confirmed by FNAC only. We have excluded the possibility of the tumor arising from an adjacent structure such as the esophagus or representing a metastasis from a primary growth elsewhere, by different investigative procedures.…”

Is an aggressive approach justified in the management of an aggressive cancer-the squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid?

“…It may be associated with other malignancies of thyroid especially papillary carcinoma [2-6]. The usual presentation is in the form of rapidly enlarging mass in older patients behaving like anaplastic carcinoma [6-9]".…”

“…Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) confirms the diagnosis of SCC but it is mandatory to exclude SCC that has spread from adjacent upper aero digestive tract sites, as well as metastasis from distant sites, such as the lung, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract [2,3,6-9]. The evaluation therefore usually involves a combination of endoscopy and radiographic examination by computed tomography to rule out the neighbouring or metastatic carcinoma [1,9-12].…”

“…The evaluation therefore usually involves a combination of endoscopy and radiographic examination by computed tomography to rule out the neighbouring or metastatic carcinoma [1,9-12]. …”