A Case of Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2010;26(2):240-242.
Published online November 30, 2010.

Jeong Hun Seol;Hong Jun Kim;Jae Min Hong;Kyung Jin Rho;Hyun Jun Hong

갑상선에 발생한 원발성 편평세포암 1예

설정훈;김홍준;홍재민;노경진;홍현준

Abstract

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a very rare event, representing much less than 1% of all malignant tumors of the thyroid gland. The cancer is characterized by rapidly progressive clinical course in spite of its differentiated morphologic features. In most cases, a squamous epithelium is believed to be a re-sult of metaplasia of a follicular epithelium, although in rare exceptions, it can originate from a remnant of the thyroglossal duct or ultimobranchial body. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland can occur in a pure form or mixed with adenocarcinoma. Because their clinical behavior is more aggressive than that of other malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland, the tumor should be treated more vigorously at its initial stage. Recently, authors ex-perienced one case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. We report our case with a brief re-view of literature.

Key Words: Squamous cell carcinoma, Thyroid cancer