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Annals of Surgical Oncology 9:907-911 (2002)
© 2002 Society of Surgical Oncology

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Palliative Thyroidectomy for Malignant Lymphoma of the Thyroid

Rebecca S. Sippel, MD, Paul G. Gauger, MD, Peter Angelos, MD, PhD, Norman W. Thompson, MD, Eberhard Mack, MD and Herbert Chen, MD

From the Department of Surgery (RSS, EM, HC), University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin; Department of Surgery (PGG, NWT), University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Surgery (PA), Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Herbert Chen, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, H4/750 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792; Fax: 608-263-7652; E-mail: chen{at}surgery.wisc.edu

Background: Current treatment of malignant lymphoma of the thyroid consists of chemotherapy and external beam radiation. The diagnosis can routinely be made by fine-needle aspiration, obviating the need for surgery. However, a significant number of patients present with symptoms of obstruction, necessitating thyroidectomy for palliation.

Methods: To determine the outcomes of patients with malignant thyroid lymphoma after palliative thyroidectomy, we reviewed our experience. Between 1980 and 2001, 27 patients with thyroid lymphoma and symptoms or signs of airway and/or esophageal obstruction were evaluated at 1 of 3 academic institutions.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 66 ± 3 years, and the majority was female. Patients presented with symptoms of dyspnea/stridor (30%), dysphagia/pain (30%), or impending airway obstruction (40%). All underwent palliative surgery. In addition to surgery, 10 patients had combined chemo- and radiotherapy, 10 had radiotherapy alone, and 4 had only chemotherapy. Symptom-free survival after palliative surgery was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The mean actuarial symptom-free survival of patients with symptomatic, malignant thyroid lymphoma was 10 years (95% confidence interval, 7.67 to 12.33 years).

Conclusions: Patients with malignant lymphoma of the thyroid can present with obstructive symptoms requiring palliative intervention. In this group of patients, thyroidectomy can be associated with good long-term palliation and low morbidity.

Key Words: Thyroid • Lymphoma • Thyroidectomy • Palliation




This article has been cited by other articles:


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B. S. Miller and P. G. Gauger
Thyroid Lymphoma Arising from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 3711 - 3712.
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