Analysis of Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Thyroid

Received October 5, 2011 Revised November 25, 2011 Accepted November 28, 2011 Address for correspondence Young-Mo Kim, MD, PhD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, 7-206 Sinheung-dong 3-ga, Jung-gu, Incheon 400-711, Korea Tel +82-32-890-3472 Fax +82-32-890-3580 E-mail ymk416@inha.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZSquamous cell carcinoma of thyroid is uncommon and accounts for less than 1% of all primary thyroid malignancies. Clinical features mimic the natural course of anaplastic carcinoma. This study reviewed the clinical course of six cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid. Subjects and MethodZZWe diagnosed six cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid diagnosed from 1999 to 2006 at the College of Medicine Department of Pathology. Clinical data, treatment modality, and pathologic test results from medical records were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsZZWe found five women and one man (with the mean age of 52.1 years) with squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid. The main presenting features were abruptly enlarging neck swelling and obstructive symptom. Pre-operative needle aspiration biopsy revealed papillary carcinoma in five cases. Only one patient was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma through pre-operative needle aspiration biopsy. Three patients had massive adjacent organ invasion, and four patients had lymph node metastasis according to the pathology review. There were no cases of distant metastasis at the time of treatment. All patients received surgery and adjuvant therapy (radiation therapy, chemotherapy, radioiodine therapy). Three patients are still alive with a mean follow up period of 47.3 months (range, 44-49 months). The other three patients died within one year post-operatively. ConclusionZZPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid should be considered in patients diagnosed with papillary carcinoma and who exhibit aggressive clinical behavior. Complete tumor resection and radiotherapy should be performed if thyroid squamous cell carcinoma is confirmed. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2012;55:26-9