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Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 EP1253 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.EP1253

1Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain; 2Department of Pathological Anatomy, Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain.


Introduction: Squamous cell thyroid carcinoma is a very rare malignant epithelial tumour. It presents as rapid growth cervical mass, may affect neighbour structures and sometimes metastasizes other parts of the body. It’s often associated with previous goiter history and occasionally with autoimmune thyroiditis. It can appear pure, as a component of undifferentiated carcinoma, or combined with differentiated carcinoma areas (papillary or follicular).

Case report: A 31 years old woman, with goiter family history (mother and paternal aunt). Without any previous history or cervical radiotherapy. She presented an anterocervical lump, without compressive discomfort. Physical examination: multinodular goitre (MNG) grade 2. Neck ultrasound: bilateral MNG with endothoracic projection and left prevalence with 3 cn dominant nodule. Biochemistry: TSH 1 μUI/ml. Ultrasound-guided FNA: colloid nodule with cyst formation. X-ray chest: left-extrinsic tracheal mark. Because of nodule size and endothoracic projection, we decided total thyroidectomy. Histopathology: colloid nodules with peripheral areas of squamous metaplasia, including nuclear atypia area, mitosis and p53 expression suggestive of squamous carcinoma transformation, the tumour doesn’t exceed the capsule, there were no lymphatic or vascular infiltration. Extension post-surgery, we apply for a thyroid ultrasound with suggestive image of scar tissue in left thyroid bed and PET-CT was negative. Oncology Service examined our case, no adjuvant treatment was recommended. Currently, three years after surgery, the patient remains free of disease.

Conclusion: Squamous cell thyroid carcinoma is an aggressive tumour, usually lethal. It requires rapid diagnosis. The best option of treatment is radical surgery, only possible if early diagnosis, as in our case. The use of postoperative external radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered because of the high rate of local recurrence of these tumours.

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