Thyroid liposarcoma: a case report

Abstract

Objectives

Thyroid liposarcoma is a rare tumor. Its low prevalence accounts for the scarcity of data in the literature, which consists mostly of small studies and case reports.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 60 years old male with no past medical or past surgical history and presented with neck discomfort and a large left thyroid nodule. Thyroid ultrasound and CT scan were performed and confirmed the existence of a thyroid nodule most probably inside the left inferior thyroid lobe. In the posterior mediastinum, two fatty formations were found. To complete, an MRI was performed, showing a mixed lesion, of the lower neck and upper chest. The patient underwent an extended resection which consisted of an en bloc resection of the lesion (left thyroid lobectomy and isthmus resection) by an anterior transverse cervical incision and a sternotomy. Tracheal and laryngeal shaving and esophageal shaving with resection of the esophageal muscularis was performed as well. The pathological evaluation of the specimen showed a grade II dedifferentiated liposarcoma with an inflammatory component.

Conclusions

Thyroid liposarcoma is a rare lesion of the thyroid. Its management requires an exhaustive workup followed by an en bloc resection of the lesion. Depending on the histology, postoperative radiation therapy may or may not be necessary.