Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T03:28:42.832Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: primary or secondary disease?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2010

M I Syed ,
M Stewart ,
S Syed ,
S Dahill ,
C Adams ,
D R McLellan  and
L J Clark
M I Syed*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK
M Stewart
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
S Syed
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
S Dahill
Affiliation:
Department of Histopathology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
C Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
D R McLellan
Affiliation:
Department of Histopathology, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK
L J Clark
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Mohammed Iqbal Syed, Specialist Registrar in Otolaryngology, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Glasgow G51 4TF, Scotland, UK Fax: +44 (0)141 3146616 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To review the aetiopathogenesis, clinical characteristics, immunohistochemical profile, prognosis and treatment options for primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma, and to compare it with squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid, thus providing the reader with a framework for differentiating primary and secondary disease.

Method:

Review of English language literature from the past 25 years.

Search strategy:

A search of the Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases (April 1984 to April 2009) was undertaken to enable a comprehensive review.

Results:

After applying strict criteria for the diagnosis of primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma, 28 articles were identified reporting 84 cases. When reviewing secondary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma, we only analysed cases of squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland, and found 28 articles reporting 78 cases.

Conclusion:

It is possible to differentiate between primary and secondary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma, on the basis of combined evidence from clinical examination and endoscopic, pathological and radiological evaluation. Such differentiation is important, as the prognosis for primary squamous cell carcinoma is uniformly poor irrespective of treatment, and the most suitable option may be supportive therapy. Treatment for secondary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid varies with the site and extent of spread of the primary tumour.

Keywords

Thyroid NeoplasmsTumour MetastasisSquamous Carcinoma
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 3 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Lam, KY, Sakamoto, A. Squamous cell carcinoma. In: Delellis, Ronald A., Lloyd, Ricardo V., Heitz, Phillipp U., Eng, Charis eds. Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Endocrine Organs. Lyon France: ARC press, International agency for research and cancer (IARC), 2004;81Google Scholar
2 Katoh, R, Sakamoto, A, Kasai, N, Yagawa, K. Squamous differentiation in thyroid carcinoma. With special reference to histogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Acta Pathol Jpn 1989;39:306–12Google ScholarPubMed
3 Goldman, RL. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Report of a case and review of literature. Am Surg 1964;30:247–52Google Scholar
4 Korovin, GS, Kuriloff, DB, Cho, HT, Sobol, SM. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: a diagnostic dilemma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1989;98:59–65CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Cichoń, S, Anielski, R, Konturek, A, Barczyński, M, Cichoń, W. Metastases to the thyroid gland: seventeen cases operated on in a single clinical center. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2006;391:581–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6 Segal, K, Sidi, J, Abraham, A, Konichezky, M, Ben-Bassat, M. Pure squamous cell carcinoma and mixed adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Head Neck Surg 1984;6:1035–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 Walvekar, RR, Kane, SV, D'Cruz, AK. Collision tumour of the thyroid: follicular variant of papillary carcinoma and squamous carcinoma. World J Surg Oncol 2006;19;4:65CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Kleer, CG, Giordano, TJ, Merino, MJ. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: an aggressive tumour associated with tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Mod Pathol 2000;13:742–6Google Scholar
9 Long, JL, Strocker, AM, Wang, MB, Blackwell, KE. EGFR expression in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Laryngoscope 2009;119:89–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10 Makay, O, Kaya, T, Ertan, Y, Icoz, G, Akyildiz, M, Yilmaz, M et al. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: report of three cases. Endocr J 2008;55:359–64CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11 Müssig, K, Dahm, J, Koitschev, A, Horger, M, Müller, M, Bares, R et al. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Intern Med J 2008;38:69–70CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Fassan, M, Pennelli, G, Pelizzo, MR, Rugge, M. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: immunohistochemical profile and literature review. Tumori 2007;93:518–21CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13 Ab Hadi, I, Bliss, RD, Lennard, TW, Welch, AR. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: a case report and role of radiotherapy. Surgeon 2007;5:249–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14 Chintamani, Kulshreshtha, P, Singh, J, Sugandhi, N, Bansal, A, Bhatnagar, D et al. Is an aggressive approach justified in the management of an aggressive cancer – the squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid? Int Semin Surg Oncol 2007;27:8Google Scholar
15 Booya, F, Sebo, TJ, Kasperbauer, JL, Fatourechi, V. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: report of ten cases. Thyroid 2006;16:89–93CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Sanchez-Sosa, S, Rios-Luna, NP, Tamayo Bdel, R, Simpson, K, Albores-Saavedra, J. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid arising in Hashimoto's thyroiditis in an adolescent. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2006;9:496–500Google Scholar
17 Zimmer, PW, Wilson, D, Bell, N. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Mil Med 2003;168:124–5Google Scholar
18 Zhou, XH. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Eur J Surg Oncol 2002;28:42–5Google Scholar
19 Sahoo, M, Bal, CS, Bhatnagar, D. Primary squamous-cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: new evidence in support of follicular epithelial cell origin. Diagn Cytopathol 2002;27:227–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20 Lam, KY, Lo, CY, Liu, MC. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: an entity with aggressive clinical behaviour and distinctive cytokeratin expression profiles. Histopathology 2001;39:279–86CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21 Agrawal, R, Tandon, V, Agrawal, A, Agrawal, G, Krishnani, N, Mishra, SK. Squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid gland. J Assoc Physicians India 2001;49:279–80Google Scholar
22 Jones, JM, McCluggage, WG, Russell, CF. Primary squamous carcinoma of the thyroid. Ulster Med J 2000;69:58–60Google ScholarPubMed
23 Cook, AM, Vini, L, Harmer, C. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: outcome of treatment in 16 patients. Eur J Surg Oncol 1999;25:606–9Google Scholar
24 Kumar, PV, Malekhusseini, SA, Talei, AR. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. A report of two cases. Acta Cytol 1999;43:659–62Google Scholar
25 Wan Muhaizan, WM, Phang, KS, Sharifah, NA, al Amin, D. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid – a case report. Malays J Pathol 1998;20:109–11Google Scholar
26 Chaudhary, RK, Barnes, EL, Myers, EN. Squamous cell carcinoma arising in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Head Neck 1994;16:582–5Google Scholar
27 Theander, C, Lödén, B, Berglund, J, Seidal, T. Primary squamous carcinoma of the thyroid – a case report. J Laryngol Otol 1993;107:1155–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28 Tsuchiya, A, Suzuki, S, Nomizu, T, Yamaki, Y, Abe, R, Katayama, S. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid – a report of three cases. Jpn J Surg 1990;20:341–5Google Scholar
29 Harada, T, Katagiri, M, Tsukayama, C, Higashi, Y, Shimaoka, K. Squamous cell carcinoma with cyst of the thyroid. J Surg Oncol 1989;42:136–43Google Scholar
30 Simpson, WJ, Carruthers, J. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Am J Surg 1988;156:44–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31 Sarda, AK, Bal, S, Arunabh, Singh, MK, Kapur, MM. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. J Surg Oncol 1988;39:175–8Google Scholar
32 Misonou, J, Aizawa, M, Kanda, M, Uekita, Y, Motohara, T. Pure squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland – report of an autopsy case and review of the literature. Jpn J Surg 1988;18:469–74Google Scholar
33 Riddle, PE, Dincsoy, HP. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid associated with leukocytosis and hypercalcemia. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1987;111:373–4Google ScholarPubMed
34 Huang, TY, Lin, SG. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Indiana Med 1986;79:763–4Google Scholar
35 Kapoor, VK, Sharma, D, Mukhopadhyay, AK, Chattopadhyay, TK. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland – a case report. Jpn J Surg 1985;15:60–2Google Scholar
36 Jankowska, P, Teoh, EM, Fisher, C, Rhys Evans, P, Nutting, CM, Harrington, KJ. Isolated intrathyroid metastasis from undifferentiated and squamous carcinoma of the head and neck: the case for surgery and re-irradiation. Br J Radiol 2008;81:154–61CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37 Lee, MW, Batoroev, YK, Odashiro, AN, Nguyen, GK. Solitary metastatic cancer to the thyroid: a report of five cases with fine-needle aspiration cytology. Cytojournal 2007;30:5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38 Ciobanu, D, Vulpoi, C, Găluşcă, B, Florea, N, Giuşcă, SE, Căruntu, ID. The value of the immunohistochemical exam in the diagnosis of the secondary malignant tumors to the thyroid gland. Rom J Morphol Embryol 2007;48:113–19Google Scholar
39 Iesalnieks, I, Trupka, A, Raab, M, Glockzin, G, Woenckhaus, M, Schlitt, HJ et al. Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the thyroid gland – 8 cases reported. Thyroid 2007;17:49–52Google Scholar
40 Papi, G, Fadda, G, Corsello, SM, Corrado, S, Rossi, ED, Radighieri, E et al. Metastases to the thyroid gland: prevalence, clinicopathological aspects and prognosis: a 10-year experience. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2007;66:565–71CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41 Bandyopadhyay, SK, Bandyopadhyay, R, Dutta, A. Isolated massive thyroid metastasis in lung cancer. Singapore Med J 2006;47:324–6Google ScholarPubMed
42 Karapanagiotou, E, Saif, MW, Rondoyianni, D, Markaki, S, Alamara, C, Kiagia, M et al. Metastatic cervical carcinoma to the thyroid gland: a case report and review of the literature. Yale J Biol Med 2006;79:165–8Google Scholar
43 Gerges, AS, Shehata, SR, Gouda, IA. Metastasis to the thyroid gland; unusual site of metastasis. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2006;18:67–72Google Scholar
44 Preuss, SF, Stenzel, M, Hansen, T. Metastatic disease of bronchial carcinoma in a thyroid nodule: a case report. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2005;262:804–6Google Scholar
45 Mirallié, E, Rigaud, J, Mathonnet, M, Gibelin, H, Regenet, N, Hamy, A et al. Management and prognosis of metastases to the thyroid gland. J Am Coll Surg 2005;200:203–7Google Scholar
46 Kim, TY, Kim, WB, Gong, G, Hong, SJ, Shong, YK. Metastasis to the thyroid diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2005;62:236–41CrossRefGoogle Scholar
47 Dequanter, D, Lothaire, P, Larsimont, D, de Saint-Aubain de Somerhausen, N, Andry, G. Intrathyroid metastasis: 11 cases. Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 2004;65:205–8Google Scholar
48 Wood, K, Vini, L, Harmer, C. Metastases to the thyroid gland: the Royal Marsden experience. Eur J Surg Oncol 2004;30:583–8Google Scholar
49 De Ridder, M, Sermeus, AB, Urbain, D, Storme, GA. Metastases to the thyroid gland – a report of six cases. Eur J Intern Med 2003;14:377–9Google Scholar
50 Schwender, FT, Wollner, I, Kunju, LP, Nakhleh, RE, Chan, KM. Squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa with metastases to the pericardial cavity, lung and thyroid. Oral Oncol 2002;38:114–16Google Scholar
51 Heffess, CS, Wenig, BM, Thompson, LD. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid gland: a clinicopathologic study of 36 cases. Cancer 2002;95:1869–78Google Scholar
52 Chen, H, Nicol, TL, Udelsman, R. Clinically significant, isolated metastatic disease to the thyroid gland. World J Surg 1999;23:177–80Google Scholar
53 Lam, KY, Lo, CY. Metastatic tumours of the thyroid gland: a study of 79 cases in Chinese patients. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1998;122:37–41Google Scholar
54 Lin, JD, Weng, HF, Ho, YS. Clinical and pathological characteristics of secondary thyroid cancer. Thyroid 1998;8:149–53CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55 Nakhjavani, MK, Gharib, H, Goellner, JR, van Heerden, JA. Metastasis to the thyroid gland. A report of 43 cases. Cancer 1997;79:574–83.0.CO;2-#>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
56 Rosen, IB, Walfish, PG, Bain, J, Bedard, YC. Secondary malignancy of the thyroid gland and its management. Ann Surg Oncol 1995;2:252–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
57 Michelow, PM, Leiman, G. Metastases to the thyroid gland: diagnosis by aspiration cytology. Diagn Cytopathol 1995;13:209–13CrossRefGoogle Scholar
58 Smith, SA, Gharib, H, Goellner, JR. Fine-needle aspiration. Usefulness for diagnosis and management of metastatic carcinoma to the thyroid. Arch Intern Med 1987;147:311–12CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
59 Chacho, MS, Greenebaum, E, Moussouris, HF, Schreiber, K, Koss, LG. Value of aspiration cytology of the thyroid in metastatic disease. Acta Cytol 1987;31:705–12Google Scholar
60 McCabe, DP, Farrar, WB, Petkov, TM, Finkelmeier, W, O'Dwyer, P, James, A. Clinical and pathologic correlations in disease metastatic to the thyroid gland. Am J Surg 1985;150:519–23CrossRefGoogle Scholar
61 Ivy, HK. Cancer metastatic to the thyroid: a diagnostic problem. Mayo Clin Proc 1984;59:856–9Google Scholar
62 Vane, D, King, DR, Boles, ET Jr. Secondary thyroid neoplasms in pediatric cancer patients: increased risk with improved survival. J Pediatr Surg 1984,19:855–60CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
63 Goldberg, HM, Harvey, P. Squamous-cell cysts of the thyroid with special reference to the aetiology of squamous epithelium in the human thyroid. Br J Surg 1956;43:565–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
64 Kobayashi, T, Okamoto, S, Maruyama, H, Okamura, J, Takai, S, Mori, T. Squamous metaplasia with Hashimoto's thyroiditis presenting as a thyroid nodule. J Surg Oncol 1989;40:139–42Google Scholar
65 Nakhjavani, M, Gharib, H, Goellner, JR, Heerden, JA. Direct extension of malignant lesions to the thyroid gland from adjacent organs: report of 17 cases. Endocr Pract 1999;5:69–71Google Scholar
66 Gulisano, M, Pirino, A, Montella, A. Blood and/or lymphatic connection of laryngo-pharynx and thyroid: an anatomic and clinical problem (in Italian). Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1993;69:655–9Google Scholar
67 Weber, AL, Randolph, G, Aksoy, FG. The thyroid and parathyroid glands. CT and MR imaging and correlation with pathology and clinical findings. Radiol Clin North Am 2000;38:1105–29Google Scholar
68 Macapinlac, HA. FDG-PET in head and neck, and thyroid cancer. Chang Gung Med J 2005;28:284–95Google Scholar
69 DeLellis, R. Secondary tumours of the thyroid. In: Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Endocrine Organs. Lyon, France: IARC Press, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2004;122–3Google Scholar
70 Lam, KY, Lui, MC, Lo, CY. Cytokeratin expression profiles in thyroid carcinomas. Eur J Surg Oncol 2001;27:631–5Google Scholar
71 Ordóñez, NG. Value of thyroid transcription factor-1 immunostaining in distinguishing small cell lung carcinomas from other small cell carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 2000;24:1217–23Google Scholar
72 Agoff, SN, Lamps, LW, Philip, AT, Amin, MB, Schmidt, RA, True, LD et al. Thyroid transcription factor-1 is expressed in extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas but not in other extrapulmonary neuroendocrine tumours. Mod Pathol 2000;13:238–42Google Scholar
73 Pelosi, G, Fraggetta, F, Pasini, F, Maisonneuve, P, Sonzogni, A, Iannucci, A et al. Immunoreactivity for thyroid transcription factor-1 in stage I non-small cell carcinomas of the lung. Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:363–72Google Scholar
74 Dabbs, D. Immunohistology of endocrine tumours. In: Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, 2006;9:269Google Scholar
75 Corrin, B, Nicholson, AG. Tumours. In: Pathology of the Lungs. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2005;12:675Google Scholar
76 Huang, TY, Assor, D. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: a report of four cases. Am J Clin Pathol 1971;55:93–8Google Scholar
77 Kampsen, EB, Jager, N, Max, MH. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: a report of two cases. J Surg Oncol 1977;9:567–78Google Scholar
78 Shimaoka, K, Tsukada, Y. Squamous cell carcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas originating from the thyroid gland. Cancer 1980;15:1833–42Google Scholar
79 Kukreti, SC, Prabhune, PV, Upadhyaya, GH, Shah, HH. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. J Indian Med Assoc 1972;16:287–8Google Scholar
80 Harada, T, Shimaoka, K, Yakumaru, K, Ito, K. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland – transition from adenocarcinoma. J Surg Oncol 1982;19:36–43Google Scholar
81 Harmer, C. Thyroid Cancer. In: Horwich, A, ed. Oncology. A Multidisciplinary Textbook. London: Chapman and Hall, 1995;565–84Google Scholar
82 Ericsson, M, Biörklund, A, Cederquist, E, Ingemansson, S, Akerman, M. Surgical treatment of metastatic disease in the thyroid gland. J Surg Oncol 1981;17:15–23Google Scholar