Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a malignant epithelial tumor,
composed entirely of cells with squamous differentiation and accounting for fewer
than 1% of all malignancies of the thyroid gland [1]. Because squamous cells are absent
from the normal thyroid gland, the etiology of PSCCT remains unclear. Hypotheses include
the differentiation of squamous cells derived from embryonic remnants of epithelial
cells in the gland, squamous metaplastic changes in response to inflammatory diseases
such as thyroiditis, and malignant neoplasms, such as papillary, follicular, or anaplastic
carcinoma [2]. Occasionally, PSCCT arises from other thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, tall cell variant papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and anaplastic
carcinoma [3,4]. We describe a patient with the combination of a well-differentiated
squamous cell carcinoma and follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. To our knowledge,
this is the third report of a patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma plus follicular
carcinoma of the thyroid in the English language literature [2,5].
CASE REPORT
A 69-year-old man visited Asan Medical Center for dysphagia and a gradually growing
huge anterior neck mass of 10 years duration. He had no clinical symptoms related
to thyroid dysfunction and had been repeatedly treated at another institution with
radiofrequency ablation for his cystic neck lesion. Fine needle aspiration cytology
at that time showed squamous cells and many inflammatory cells, leading to a diagnosis
of branchial cleft cyst. Neck computed tomography on this occasion showed a 13×11
cm cystic lesion with irregularly thick walls involving the left lobe of the thyroid
gland; the lesion also contained a strongly enhanced solid portion, septation, and
calcification (Fig. 1A). Fusion whole body positron emission tomography fluorine-18
fluorodeoxyglucose was performed, showing abnormal uptake only by the neck mass (Fig.
1B). The esophagus, stomach, and larynx were unremarkable on esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with neck lymph node dissection. Macroscopically,
a huge mass measuring 14×13×8 cm had replaced the entire left lobe of his thyroid
gland, with the mass also involving the right lobe. Multiple cystic spaces measuring
up to 8.2 cm in the greatest dimension were present in the central portion of the
mass and were filled with dirty necrotic fluid. The solid part of the mass was well
demarcated, round in shape and had tan, firm, and smooth cut surfaces. Although the
mass abutted the thyroid capsule, there was no extension to the surrounding soft tissues
or other organs (Fig. 1C). The tumor consisted histologically of two well-delineated
components. The center contained a cystic lesion lined by atypical squamous epithelium.
The squamous cells showed unequivocal pleomorphism and extensive keratinization, resulting
in a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma with cystic degeneration (Fig. 2A). The
peripheral part of the mass was composed of a solid growth of thyroid follicles. The
two components were in direct contact, but they did not show areas of transition (Fig.
2B). The follicular lesion was cellular and displayed microfollicular and trabecular
growth patterns. The follicle cells contained abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and
mildly atypical round nuclei with smooth contour. Small nucleoli were frequently seen,
whereas mitotic figures were rare (Fig. 2C). The peripheral boundary of the follicular
lesion was surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule, and showed a generally expansile,
but partly invasive, growth pattern (Fig. 2D). Immunohistochemical examination showed
that the squamous cell carcinoma was positive for p63, thyroid transcription factor
1 (TTF-1), and p53 and had a 20% Ki-67 labeling index (Fig. 3A-E). The follicular
carcinoma component was diffusely positive for galectin-3 (Fig. 3I), TTF-1, and CD56
(Fig. 3F) and negative for p53, cytokeratin 19 (Fig. 3G), and HBME-1 (Fig. 3H), and
the Ki-67 labeling index was 2%. Of the 18 dissected cervical lymph nodes, none was
found to contain a metastatic tumor. The patient was lost to follow up 1 month later,
but Korean National Health Insurance data show that he survived for 15 months after
surgery.
DISCUSSION
We describe a patient with a combined squamous cell carcinoma and follicular carcinoma
of the thyroid. Because one of these components was observed on aspiration cytology
and the other by core needle biopsy, a preoperative diagnosis could not be determined.
The resected tumor also required detailed consideration. Differential diagnoses included
anaplastic transformation from a follicular carcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma
to a follicular carcinoma, follicular carcinoma with squamous differentiation, and
primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma intermingling with follicular carcinoma.
Patients with anaplastic carcinoma usually present with a rapidly growing neck mass
and have a median survival of 6 months [6]. Histologically, anaplastic carcinomas
tend to show widely invasive growth, extensive tumor necrosis, marked nuclear pleomorphism,
and high mitotic activity. When anaplastic carcinomas show squamoid differentiation,
squamoid cells are usually mixed with spindle or giant cells [6]. Our patient had
a slow growing neck mass and mild to moderate cellular atypia without giant cells,
spindle cells or atypical mitoses. Moreover, keratinizing squamous cell nests were
in contact with the follicular carcinoma without transitional areas.
Metastasis to the thyroid gland is rare, with fewer than 2% of thyroid tumors being
metastatic squamous cell carcinomas to the thyroid gland [7]. Metastases to the thyroid
gland generally develop within two years of identification of the primary site [8].
Our patient showed no evidence of squamous cell carcinoma of non-thyroidal origin.
Squamous metaplasia has been reported from both benign and malignant thyroid lesions,
including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, follicular adenoma, and papillary thyroid carcinoma
[3,9], but there are no reports of squamous metaplasia transforming into squamous
cell carcinoma in thyroid tissue. In many cases, the de novo appearance of primary
squamous cell carcinoma from follicular epithelium without prior metaplastic change
is considered likely [10]. Our patient showed no evidence of squamous metaplasia,
and the border between the two components was abrupt. Overall features of the case
led to a diagnosis of PSCCT combined with follicular carcinoma.
PSCCT is reported to have an aggressive clinical course, similar to that of anaplastic
carcinoma. However, the two prior case reports of mixed squamous cell carcinoma and
follicular carcinoma of the thyroid showed less aggressive courses. One report described
a 56-year-old man with a hoarse voice and a rapidly growing mass over 3 months on
the right side of the thyroid gland. The resected 3-cm thyroid mass was found to be
a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma intermingled with follicular carcinoma.
Metastatic follicular carcinomas were found in the left upper lung and T7 spine at
that time and 7 years later, respectively, but the patient survived more than 8 years
after surgery [5]. The other patient was a 67-year-old man with a 6 months history
of progressive enlarging anterior neck mass. A right lobectomy was performed, yielding
an 8-cm mass. Histologic examination showed a poorly differentiated squamous cell
carcinoma mixed with follicular carcinoma. Despite the development of a metastatic
follicular carcinoma in the right iliac crest 3 years after surgery, the patient survived
more than 6 years after surgery [2]. The different biologic behaviors displayed by
PSCCT and mixed squamous cell carcinoma and follicular carcinoma are not fully understood,
but they could be related to the presence of follicular carcinoma as a barrier. It
is noteworthy that the metastatic diseases in both cases involved follicular carcinoma
alone. Our patient could have undergone a similar clinical course but died 15 months
after surgery of unknown cause.
In summary, we have described a patient with mixed squamous cell carcinoma and follicular
carcinoma of the thyroid gland, including a discussion of its histogenesis and clinical
differences from PSCCT.