[Thyroid lymphoma: a clinico-pathological study]

Five cases of primary lymphoma of the thyroid followed at our hospital during the last decade are reviewed. The clinical and pathological characteristics are analysed and the therapeutical approach described. The age at the diagnosis ranged between 26 and 76 years, with a female versus male predominance (4 out of 5 cases). The commonest clinical feature at presentation was goiter of rapid growth accompanied by compressive symptoms. The pathologic study showed a centrocytic-centroblastic pattern in 3 cases and an immunoblastic lymphoma in the other 2 cases. Associated Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found in 4 of the patients, and extra-thyroid extension in 2 cases. An immunohistochemical study with different cell membrane markers was performed. The treatment included surgery alone in one case, chemotherapy in one case and radiotherapy in another; combined treatment (surgery plus radiotherapy) was performed in two cases. At present the average follow up period is 4.5 years with a patient having died of an unrelated cause among the five cases.