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Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as a rapidly growing thyroid mass
Judith E Kalinyak1, Christina S Kong, I Ross McDougall
1Thyroid Clinic, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association
|October 18, 2006
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as a rapidly growing thyroid mass. Prompt diagnosis and chemotherapy led to complete resolution of symptoms, highlighting the importance of rapid intervention for this aggressive lymphoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Hematology
- Pathology
Background:
- Burkitt's lymphoma is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by rapid proliferation.
- Primary thyroid lymphoma is rare, with most cases being non-Hodgkin lymphomas of B-cell origin.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old man presented with acute tracheal compression due to a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass.
- Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy suggested lymphoma, and CT scan confirmed tracheal deviation without invasion.
- The patient received emergent chemotherapy (CHOP and rituximab), resulting in rapid mass resolution.
Findings:
- Bone marrow biopsy confirmed stage IV Burkitt's lymphoma.
- The patient's treatment was escalated to hyper CVAD-R chemotherapy.
- Tumor lysis syndrome occurred but was successfully managed with hydration and allopurinol.
Implications:
- This case represents only the second reported instance of Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as a primary thyroid mass.
- The rapid progression and response to treatment underscore the need for urgent diagnosis and management.
- This rare presentation offers insights into primary thyroid lymphomas and their aggressive nature.
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