Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2008 Nov;51(11):1065-1067.

A Case of Synchronous Squamous Cell and Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

• Joo YH
• Kim JH
• Sun DI
• Kim MS

Abstract

The simultaneous occurrence of two distinct neoplasms derived from different cells of origin is sometimes recognized. In the thyroid gland, two such distinct tumors could consist of a concurrent squamous cell carcinoma and well-differentiated carcinoma showing follicular epithelial cell differentiation. Because the squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by rapidly progressive clinical course in spite of its differentiated morphologic feature, the tumor should be treated more vigorously at its initial stage. We report a rare, interesting case of concurrent squamous cell and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. A 69-year-old male underwent a total thyroidectomy, central neck dissection and bilaterally modified radical neck dissection, which was diagnosed as papillary carcinoma by ultrasonography-guided aspiration cytology. The pathological report of the surgical specimen of the thyroid gland revealed synchronous squamous cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. He received local radiotherapy but died of pneumonia eight months after surgery.

Keyword

Thyroid neoplasms; Squamous cell carcinoma; Papillary carcinoma; Multiple primary neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Aged
Carcinoma, Papillary
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Epithelial Cells
Humans
Male
Neck Dissection
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
Pneumonia
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroidectomy