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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.10.2008.1137
  • Rare disease

A case of primary thyroid squamous cell cancer: transformation from benign tumour associated with chronic thyroiditis?

  1. Tatsuya Kondo1,
  2. Akiko Matsuyoshi1,
  3. Hidetake Matsuyoshi2,
  4. Rieko Goto1,
  5. Kaoru Ono1,
  6. Yumi Honda3,
  7. Ken-ichi Iyama3,
  8. Kaku Tsuruzoe1,
  9. Nobuhiro Miyamura1,
  10. Eiichi Araki1
  1. 1
    Kumamoto University, Department of Metabolic Medicine, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
  2. 2
    Kumamoto University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
  3. 3
    Kumamoto University, Department of Surgical Pathology, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
  1. Eiichi Araki, earaki{at}gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
  • Published 14 April 2009

Summary

Primary squamous cell cancer of the thyroid gland (SCT) is a rare malignant tumour and is associated with a high mortality. A female patient who suffered from primary SCT is described in this report. The cancer was identified with acute painful swelling of the thyroid gland, when the patient was under periodical observation for her chronic thyroiditis at our outpatient’s clinic. In spite of the highly malignant potential of the cancer as indicated by histological examinations, including p53 and MIB-1 index analyses, the patient has been successfully treated so far with surgery and radiation therapy, surviving for more than 34 months with no sign of recurrence or metastasis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment might have been essential for the successful management of this patient. Further observations and investigations are necessary to clarify the mechanisms of the long survival and to find a better treatment for the disease.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

  • Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication

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