Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2011 Dec;4(4):204-206.

Synovial Sarcoma of the Thyroid Gland

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. shchoi@amc.seoul.kr
  • 2Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare condition which has only been reported twice in the literature. We herein report a case of highly aggressive and rapidly lethal primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid. A 72-year-old woman presented with extensive local invasion, rapid progression, and early distant metastasis secondary to primary thyroid synovial sarcoma. The tumor exhibited an atypical histologic and immunohistochemical staining pattern. Detection of SYT/SSX fusion transcript confirmed the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Due to the aggressive nature of primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid gland, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment including wide resection and postoperative chemoradiation is required.

Keyword

Synovial sarcoma; Thyroid gland

MeSH Terms

Aged
Early Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Sarcoma, Synovial
Thyroid Gland

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Preoperative radiologic findings. (A) Axial computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large low attenuation mass replacing the thyroid gland with possible invasion to the trachea. (B) Axial CT scan performed 2 weeks after the first CT scan revealed tracheal intraluminal invasion. (C) Chest CT scan showed multiple variable sized nodular lesions suggestive of lung metastasis.

  • Fig. 2 Gross and microscopic findings of the surgical specimen. (A) The main mass measured 6×5×4.5 cm. The cut surface of the tumor was yellow and lobulated with fibrous septa and myxoid change. (B, C) The tumor was consisted of fascicles and sheets of dense, uniform, relatively small ovoid neoplastic cells that showed a hemangiopericytic vascular pattern. Epithelial component was not identified (B: H&E, ×100; C: H&E, ×200).


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