Diagnosis Of Primary Thyroid Lymphoma Research Articles

SAT570 Thyroid Lymphoma In A Patient With Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Abstract Disclosure: T. Aggarwal: None. S. Reyes: None. I.C. Glitza Oliva: None. E. Korytnaya: None. Background:Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) accounts for < 5% of thyroid malignancies. Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) are at greater risk for developing PTL, with a relative risk of 67 compared to those without thyroiditis. The most common and more aggressive subtype of PTL is diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) which is found in more than 50% of the cases, followed by MALT lymphoma and follicular lymphoma (FL), which represents only about 10% of cases. PTL can be classified as a nodular, diffuse, or mixed type based upon ultrasound (US) findings. Diffuse type PTL presents the biggest diagnostic challenge due to resemblance to thyroiditis on US imaging. Certain US features such as enhanced posterior echoes, markedly hypoechoic appearance of thyroid tissue and linear echogenic strands are suggestive of diffuse type PTL but can also be seen in HT. Positive predictive value for US was only 33.7% for diffuse type of PTL. Diagnosis of PTL is ultimately established by biopsy with immunophenotypic assessment. Management of PTL includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combined modality treatment. Given sensitivity of PTL to radiation and chemotherapy, surgery is rarely performed and is reserved only for alleviation of severe compressive symptoms in aggressive disease or protection of airway. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old female with 10-year history of HT, hypothyroidism and goiter underwent total thyroidectomy due to worsening compressive symptoms in her neck. She denied weight loss, fevers, or night sweats. Preoperative US showed enlarged heterogenous hypoechoic thyroid gland with echogenic strands and normal vascularity, consistent with the appearance in HT. Surgical pathology unexpectedly showed extensive follicular hyperplasia, focal grade 3b FL (80%), and large foci of DLBCL arising within FL (20%). Background changes of oncocyte metaplasia and lymphocytic infiltrates consistent with Hashimoto Thyroiditis were described. Both cytogenic FISH studies as well as immunohistochemistry failed to reveal MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed mild to moderately fluorodeoxyglucose- avid lymph nodes in the right superior mediastinal, right superior paratracheal and left neck region. The patient has completed 6 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy with complete response as evidenced by normal follow up PET imaging. Conclusion:PTL is a rare malignancy and less than 1% patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis develop thyroid lymphoma. Diffuse- type PTL should be included in the differential diagnosis while managing patients with HT who present with worsening compressive symptoms involving aerodigestive tract and rapid enlargement of goiter and have markedly hypoechoic thyroid gland with heterogenous internal echoes and posterior acoustic enhancement on US images. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Abstract #1384628: An Incidental Thyroid Lesion on FDG-PET Scan in a Patient with Long History of Hypothyroidism and Radiation Exposure

An 81-year-old woman with history of lung cancer and hypothyroidism with an incidental thyroid lesion on (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan is subsequently diagnosed with primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) using flow cytometry. An 81-year-old woman with a history of lung cancer and hypothyroidism presented to the endocrinology office for evaluation of a thyroid lesion. Primary hypothyroidism was diagnosed 30 years prior to presentation and was controlled with levothyroxine 88 mcg daily. Lung cancer was diagnosed 8 years prior, and treated with radiation therapy. Patient had an FDG-PET scan obtained for the evaluation of lung nodules, and a hypermetabolic focus was noted in the left thyroid region with a max SUV of 18. On thyroid ultrasound, the left thyroid lobe appeared heterogenous with solid nodular areas. The physical exam revealed a smooth but firm thyroid gland, without cervical lymphadenopathy. Laboratory workup showed thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine in the normal range. Microsomal antibody was 4.2 IU/mL (< 5.6 IU/mL), and thyroglobulin antibody was 356.4 IU/mL (< 14.4 IU/mL). Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy showed a polymorphous lymphoid sample. Given the high SUV on PET-scan and longstanding history of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, repeat FNA biopsy with flow cytometry was subsequently performed and showed a lymphoid population consistent with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The patient was referred to oncology and diagnosed with indolent NHL. Further staging revealed interval growth in lung nodules, with biopsy showing recurrence of adenocarcinoma, but no other metastatic disease. The patient underwent radiation therapy for both her lung adenocarcinoma and primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL). Primary thyroid lymphoma accounts for less than 5% of thyroid cancers. It presents with a female predominance in the 7th decade of life, with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as the main risk factor. Patients may present with an enlarging neck mass, with or without compressive symptoms, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Diagnosis of PTL can be made through FNA biopsy, core biopsy, or open surgical biopsy. It is important to note that because these lesions have few pathognomonic features, diagnosis with FNA biopsy alone can be difficult, and sensitivity is increased to 97% with the use of flow cytometry, as was demonstrated in our case. Treatment is with radiation therapy or combined chemoradiotherapy. Surgery has a role limited to the management of airway compromise, as surgical resection has not proven to improve overall survival. This case highlights the utility of including flow cytometry with FNA sample when diagnosing PTL.

The role of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The role of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Relationship Between Primary Thyroid Lymphoma and Various Types of Thyroid Autoimmunity: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 498 Cases, Including 9 Cases with Graves' Disease.

Background: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is known to develop mostly in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and it is rare for it to develop in patients with Graves' disease (GD). The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes of PTL patients, grouped according to the presence of GD, HT, or no autoimmune thyroid disease (AITDs). The GD group was of major interest due to limited knowledge of the relationship with PTL. Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with PTL between August 1979 and October 2021, and we characterized the patients according to the presence of HT, GD, or no AITDs. Pathological specimens were classified according to the World Health Organization classification. Staging was performed in accordance with the Ann Arbor classification. Results: During the 42-year period, 498 participants were diagnosed with PTL. The median age was 68 (interquartile range 61-76) years, and 221 patients were stage IE, whereas the remaining 277 patients were stage IIE. Of the PTL patients, 431 (86.6%) were diagnosed with HT, 9 (1.8%) were diagnosed with GD, and 58 (11.6%) did not have AITDs. All nine patients with GD were positive for anti-thyroglobulin antibody and/or anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody. All patients with GD were treated with anti-thyroid medication. There were no significant differences in the proportions of each subtype of PTL between the PTL patients with GD and all subjects with PTL (p = 0.51), PTL patients with HT (p = 0.51), or PTL patients without AITDs (p = 0.48). The median follow-up time was 6.2 (interquartile range 3.0-10.7) years after the diagnosis of PTL. The Kaplan-Meier curve analyses showed no significant differences in overall survival and event-free survival between PTL patients with GD and those with HT (p = 0.37), or between PTL patients with GD and those without AITDs (p = 0.43). Conclusions: The PTL was observed with HT in a majority of cases, and rarely with GD (1.8%). The proportions of each pathological subtype of PTL and the prognosis of PTL were not different between the patients with GD and those with HT or those without AITDs.

A rapidly enlarging thyroid mass.

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who presented with a six-week history of a neck mass, mild dysphagia and dyspnea, which were accompanied by night sweats and low-grade fever. On physical examination, the thyroid gland was hard/non-tender on palpation and diffusely and asymmetrically enlarged (especially to the right). Laboratory evaluation revealed a thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 9.97 mIU/L (normal range: 0.38-5.33), a free thyroxine level of 0.6 ng/dL (normal range: 0.6-1.49) and thyroid peroxidase antibody titer > 600 IU/mL (normal < 50). Technetium-99m thyroid scintigraphy showed decreased radiotracer uptake throughout the thyroid (A). The laboratory test results and scintigraphic findings were suggestive of Hashimoto´s thyroiditis. Nevertheless, a core biopsy of the thyroid mass was done, due to the clinical suspicion of malignancy, revealing a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Subsequent gallium-67 scintigraphy demonstrated abnormal intense uptake only in the region of the thyroid mass (B, C). The thoracic and abdominal computerized tomographies were normal. The patient was treated with chemotherapy (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), followed by radiotherapy. Six months after treatment, she is in good health. Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is rare: it represents less than 5% of all thyroid malignancies and less than 3% of extra-nodal lymphomas. Differentiation of PTL from other thyroid neoplasias is necessary; it is treated differently and has a relatively good prognosis. The differential diagnosis of PTL includes goitrous Hashimoto´s thyroiditis, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma or other infiltrative thyroid neoplasms.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of primary thyroid lymphoma and diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

ObjectiveBoth primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPTC) are two rare malignant tumours with different therapies and prognoses. This study compared their clinical features.MethodsFrom a retrospective review of the pathologic database at our institute between January 2015 and August 2020, 52 PTL patients and 40 DSVPTC patients were included. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and ultrasound data were extracted from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 5.0.ResultsBoth PTL and DSVPTC were more likely to occur in women (83.7 and 67.5%, respectively), but DSVPTC patients were younger (median age: 36 vs 64.5), had fewer compressive symptoms, and more frequently had neck lymph node metastasis than PTL patients. The prevalence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and hypothyroidism was significantly higher in PTL patients than in DSVPTC patients (31% vs 17.5%). Hyperthyroidism could only be found in DSVPTC patients, which accounted for 7.5%. Heterogeneous echogenicity and irregular edges were frequently observed in both PTL and DSVPTC. However, compared with PTL, DSVPTC exhibited smaller lesion sizes, higher frequencies of diffuse sonographic patterns and calcification and lower frequencies of hypoechoic features and internal blood flow signal. The overall survival rate with PTL was 77.23%, which was lower than that with DSVPTC (90.91%), but this difference was not significant (P = 0.096).ConclusionClinical characteristics such as age, compression symptoms, and sonographic features such as a large mass with heterogeneous echogenicity, hypoechoic, irregular edges, and calcification are helpful for impression diagnosis of PTL and DSVPTC before surgery.

High frequency ultrasound combined with ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

Objective: To investigate the sonographic features of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and to evaluate the clinical significance of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (US-CNB) in PTL. Methods: A total of 24 patients with suspected PTL in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from January 2013 to June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. All cases were confirmed by pathology, of them 23 patients received US-CNB and 1 patient chose operation without US-CNB, including 5 males and 19 females, aged from 39 to 75 years old. The effectiveness and safety of 23 patients with US-CNB were evaluated, and the sonographic features of 20 patients with PTL diagnosed by pathology were analyzed. Descriptive statistical methods were used in the study. Results: In the 23 patients with suspected PTL underwent US-CNB, 18 patients were diagnosed as PTL, 4 patients were respectively diagnosed as subacute thyroiditis, anaplastic carcinoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and fibro thyroiditis, and the another patient was hard to diagnose by US-CNB and then was diagnosed as PTL by surgical biopsy. The success rate of US-CNB for diagnosis of PTL was 18/19, and no severe complications occurred in the patients with US-CNB. The other case was diagnosed as PTL by surgical biopsy without US-CNB. Sonographic features of 20 cases with PTL (18 cases diagnosed by US-CNB and 2 cases by surgery or surgery biopsy) were as follows: (1) Most nodules had irregular shapes and unsmooth margins; (2) Hypoechoic or markedly hypoechoic nodules with honeycombed or cord structures were observed in most cases; (3) Calcification was rare; (4) Multiple lesions were common; (5) Abundant intralesional vascularization was commonly observed; (6) Most cases had intensification of posterior acoustic enhancement; (7) Thyroid gland enlargement or with irregular shape; and (8) PTL often accompanied with lymph nodes enlargement in lateral neck or central region. Conclusion: PTL has certain sonographic features, with assistance of US-CNB, more accurate diagnosis of PTL can be obtained.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Differential Diagnosis of Primary Thyroid Lymphoma and Nodular Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in a Background of Heterogeneous Parenchyma.

ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and nodular Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (NHT) in patients with background of heterogeneous diffuse Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT).MethodsSixty HT patients with 64 thyroid nodules (31 PTL and 33 NHT) who had undergone CEUS examination were included in this study. With histopathological results as the reference, we evaluated the imaging features of each nodule on both conventional ultrasonography (US) and CEUS. Quantitative CEUS parameters including peak intensity (PI), time to peak (TTP), and area under the time–intensity curve (AUC) were gathered in the nodule and background parenchyma. The ratio indexes of theses parameters were calculated by the ratio of the lesion and the corresponding thyroid parenchyma. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analyses of valuable US indicators were further preformed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of CEUS in discrimination of PTL and NHT.ResultsAmong all the observed US imaging features and CEUS parameters, 10 indicators showed significant differences between PTL and NHT (all P < 0.05). All the significant indicators were ranked according to the odds ratios (ORs). Eight of them were CEUS associated including imaging features of enhancement pattern, degree, homogeneity, and quantification parameters of PI, AUC, ratios of PI, AUC, and TTP, while indicators on conventional US, including vascularity and size ranked the last two with ORs less than 3. The five single CEUS parameters showed good diagnostic performance in diagnosis of PTL with areas under ROC curves of 0.72–0.83 and accuracies of 70.3–75.0%. The combination of CEUS imaging features and the ratios of PI, AUC, and TTP demonstrated excellent diagnostic efficiency and achieved area under ROC curve of 0.92, which was significantly higher than any of the five single parameters (all P < 0.05), with a sensitivity of 83.9%, specificity of 87.9%, and accuracy of 85.9%.ConclusionsCEUS is an efficient diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of PTL and NHT for patients with diffuse HT. Conjoint analysis of CEUS imaging features and quantification parameters could improve the diagnostic values.

The diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma by fine-needle aspiration, cell block, and immunohistochemistry technique.

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare malignant disease. Its prognosis depends on early diagnosis. The role of fine-needle aspiration (FNA), including smear cytology, cell block (CB) techniques, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) sections in the diagnosis of PTL is still unclear. Here we reported 19 cases of PTL and literature review to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy for lymphoma by cytology. Our study retrospectively reviewed 19 patients diagnosed with PTL at the affiliated hospital of Southwest Medical University in China from June 2011 to May 2019. According to the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology, the CB sections were evaluated for the presence of single tumor cells. IHC was performed on CB. The diagnostic accuracy for PTL of FNA, CB with smears, and the joint application of the three methods (FNA + CB + IHC) of our study with 19 cases was 68.4% (13/19), 83.3% (15/18), and 100% (17/17), respectively. The present study demonstrates that FNA has low sensitivity in diagnosing PTL, but the joint application of FNA, CB, and IHC might provide high diagnostic accuracy for lymphoma and should be applied in all cases where the clinical suspicion is high regardless of the FNA findings.

Primary Thyroid Lymphoma in an Adult Male: A Rare Presentation

Primary Thyroid Lymphoma (PTL) is a rare entity prevalent in middle to old aged females. They are predominantly B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), among which Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype. Here, the authors have described a case of PTL in a male patient which is extremely rare. The patient presented with a swelling over anterior aspect of neck and dysphagia since two months. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of thyroid swelling and following immunocytochemistry showed B-cell NHL. Histopathological and Immunohistochemical (IHC) examination was also done thereafter on right hemithyroidectomy specimen, which revealed a non-germinal centre type of DLBCL. Histopathological examination revealed an antecedent chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in this patient. With this case, it was evident that early diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma can be possible with FNAC. However, false negative diagnosis can occur on non-representative aspiration sample. Besides this, it is challenging for a pathologist to subtype the lymphoma on cytology smear. Hence, histopathological examination along with Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is imperative for accurate diagnosis of PTL. The patient had received three cycles of chemotherapy and follow-up of 11 months was uneventful.

The double edge sword steroid facilitated diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

The double edge sword steroid facilitated diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

The double edge sword steroid facilitated diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

A retrospective analysis of 12 cases of primary thyroid lymphoma

To discuss the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic considerations of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) by reviewing PTL cases. In the study, 12 cases of PTL diagnosed and treated in Peking University First Hospital between January 1995 and September 2015 were identified. The clinical characteristics, management experiences and prognosis of these cases were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 12 PTL patients (four males and eight females) were collected, with an average age of 63 years (42 to 81 years) at the time of diagnosis. The average time to clarify diagnosis was 5 months (0.5 to 24 months). Eleven patients presented with a rapidly growing neck mass and visited surgical department, except one complained of coughing and suffocated. Seven patients were hypothyroid, and four were euthyroid at the time of diagnosis. In sonography of 11 cases, nine showed bilateral nodules, with an average diameter of 3.87 cm. Pathologic diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was confirmed in all the 12 cases by means of partial thyroidectomy (four) or core needle biopsy (eight). The pathological subtypes were diffuse large B cell lymphoma in nine patients, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma) in two, and small B cell lymphoma in the other one patient. Five patients were concomitant with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Eleven patients received chemotherapy. Only one patient did not have any further treatment after operation due to an inertia type of tumor. The median overall survival time was 24 months (1-117 months), three patients died. Among the patients who survived, seven completed chemotherapy without disease progression, one MALToma case did not receive chemotherapy after thyroidectomy but was still alive with PTL, and one patient just finished his second course of chemotherapy. The diagnosis of PTL should be considered when dealing with rapidly growing goiters in elder female Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients whose B ultrasound indicates hypoechogenicity in thyroid nodules or parenchyma, especially with lymphadenopathy and tracheal compressions. Timely use of coreneedle biopsy on suspicious cases can avoid unnecessary surgical trauma, and chemotherapy is the main treatment.

When a Goitre is a Thyroid Lymphoma.

Primary thyroid lymphoma is a rare cause of both thyroid malignancy and extra-nodal lymphoma. It typically presents as a rapidly enlarging goitre with compressive symptoms. Histological analysis of a biopsy specimen is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Awareness of this disease is important for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A 55-year-old man was admitted due to a 3-month history of cervical enlargement, facial and periorbital oedema and dyspnoea, apparently due to a superior vena cava syndrome. However, cervical ultrasound showed asymmetrical thyroid enlargement, lobulated contours and a hypoechogenic texture. A neck CT scan showed calibre reduction of the superior vena cava. The diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma was confirmed by open biopsy of the thyroid gland. The patient started treatment with rituximab with clinical improvement.LEARNING POINTSPrimary thyroid lymphoma is rare, accounting for less than 5% of thyroid malignancies and less than 2% of extra-nodal lymphomas, but should be suspected in the presence of a rapidly enlarging goitre.Fine needle aspiration biopsy is the initial technique of choice, but core needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy may be necessary to establish the diagnosis.Treatment and prognosis are dependent on accurate histological classification, with the disease generally treated successfully with chemotherapy.

Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma

Rare case of primary thyroid lymphoma of the thyroid gland

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare disease and presents less than 1–5% of all thyroid gland malignancies. PTL is a different group and can present itself in diverse ways and histomorphologic features. The aim of this paper is to document the occurrence of a rare case of primary thyroid lymphoma of the thyroid gland. We present a case of PTL diagnosed in a 63-year-old man in our hospital. The patient complained from a rapidly enlarging cervical mass associated with dyspnea for 5 months. On physical examination, the thyroid gland size was diffusely increased with a prominence of the right side. Cervical lymphadenopathy was not palpable. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy. Histomorphologic review of the excised thyroid and immunohistochemical studies confirmed diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The patient underwent systemic chemotherapy. The diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma should be considered when thyroid gland size shows to rapidly increased. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a practical laboratory method in detection of thyroid gland neoplasms. The surgical intervention is saving for critical main airway compression and also tissue confirmatory diagnosis. A combination treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the gold standard of suitable patient management.

Eleven patients with primary thyroid lymphoma: a single center experience

Background/aim: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a very rare thyroid malignancy. It should be diagnosed and treated immediately and accurately. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic methods and treatment results for patients with PTL.Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 11 patients with PTL from 2009 to 2015, diagnosed at our institute. Age, sex, stage, histopathologic type, presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, diagnostic methods, treatment types, and recurrence were examined.Results: Six patients were female, 5 were male, and the median age of the patients was 61 years (range: 15-76 years). All patients had a large palpable mass in the neck. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy was performed in all patients; however, it was useful only in the diagnosis of 7 patients. Excisional and surgical biopsy was performed in 4 patients. All patients had non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, including 9 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 2 patients had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Recurrence was observed in one patient. Median survival was 34 months.Conclusions: The preferred option for the diagnosis of PTL should be FNA biopsy, and the treatment should be decided on according to whether the disease is limited to the thyroid gland or not, its histological type, and its stage.

Primary thyroid lymphoma has different sonographic and color Doppler features compared to nodular goiter.

The purpose of this study was to determine the specific sonographic features of primary thyroid lymphoma and its color Doppler pattern compared to nodular goiter. The sonographic findings for 13 surgically proven primary thyroid lymphomas were analyzed and compared to those for 27 nodular goiters. In accordance with the suggested pathologic patterns, the sonographic patterns of primary thyroid lymphoma could be classified into diffuse and nodular or segmental types based on the distribution of hypoechoic and echogenic structures within the lesions. Some common sonographic characteristics suggesting thyroid malignancy could not facilitate differentiation of primary thyroid lymphoma from nodular goiter. However, a central blood flow pattern would favor the diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma, whereas a peripheral pattern would suggest the diagnosis of nodular goiter. Primary thyroid lymphoma has characteristic sonographic and Doppler flow features. Along with several other parameters, a central blood flow pattern would highly suggest the diagnosis of primary thyroid lymphoma rather than nodular goiter.

Identification of primary thyroid lymphoma with medical imaging: A case report and review of the literature.

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare thyroid malignancy. Clinical diagnosis of PTL may not be easily established based on imaging studies, as the imaging features of PTL are similar to those of lymphocytic thyroiditis and primary thyroid cancer. The present study describes the case of a patient who was confirmed to have PTL by intra-operative pathological diagnosis. On color Doppler ultrasound, the PTL was shown as a significantly enlarged thyroid with reduced gland echoes. Color Doppler flow imaging showed increased blood flow. By computed tomography, the thyroid was revealed to be enlarged with reduced tissue density, particularly in the left lobe and the isthmus. In addition, calcified spots and swollen lymph nodes were evident. The clinical history of the patient was obtained and the imaging results were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging features of PTL were investigated through reviewing the literature. PTL exhibits specific features on medical imaging that aid in distinguishing it from other thyroid diseases. PTL exhibits specific features on medical imaging that aid in distinguishing PTL from other thyroid diseases, which may aid the support for clinical diagnosis and improve the clinical accuracy.

A 4‐MicroRNA signature can discriminate primary lymphomas from anaplastic carcinomas in thyroid cytology smears

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) are uncommon tumors of the thyroid gland with several overlapping clinical and pathologic features that may render their differentiation difficult in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. MicroRNA (miRNA) signatures have been recently reported as useful diagnostic tools applied to cytology specimens. Smears of 23 ATCs, 14 PTLs, and 20 non-neoplastic materials with multinodular goiter (MNG) were retrieved and classified based on their cytologic features and flow cytometric profiles. The ATC-related expression of hsa-miR-26a, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-221, and hsa-miR-222 was quantified using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. All miRNAs were remarkably up-regulated in ATC samples compared with PTL samples (P < .01). Moreover, expression levels of hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-221, and hsa-miR-222 were significantly higher in ATCs than in MNG samples (P < .01). Significant down-regulation of hsa-miR-26a was observed in PTLs compared with MNG samples, whereas hsa-miR-146b was overexpressed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff for distinguishing ATC from PTL. The estimated receiver operating characteristic thresholds displayed a sensitivity level greater than 0.80 in achieving a diagnosis of PTL, allowing the correct identification of 13 of 14 PTL samples (93%). Histotype-specific miRNA signatures can provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of thyroid carcinogenesis. The tested 4-miRNA signature is a promising diagnostic tool for differentiating ATC from PTL and non-neoplastic MNG, even in the presence of scant material obtained from minimally invasive procedures.