Thyroid lymphoma and airway obstruction - is there a rationale for surgical management?

The current management of thyroid lymphomas (TL) includes the combined use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with surgery mainly confined to diagnosis through an open biopsy following ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC).

To analyse the clinical presentation and methods of diagnosis of TL, its pitfalls and the management of these tumours presenting with compression symptoms and airway obstruction.

A retrospective review of nine patients diagnosed with TL at Guy's and St Thomas Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London over the past 5 years.

Nine consecutive patients were identified with the diagnosis of TL, and seven (78%) of them being women and with a mean age of 65 years. All patients presented with an anterior neck mass while four (44.4%) presented with stridor and vocal cord palsy. Two (22.2%) presented with a hoarse voice, dysphagia, and only one patient had a B symptom of weight loss. FNAC was diagnostic in three patients (33.3%) and a report of multi-nodular goitre in one patient. There was clinical suspicion of TL in three patients (33.3%). Of the three patients presenting with stridor, two had an open biopsy followed by the initiation of dexamethasone therapy and resolution of symptoms within 48 h. One patient had a partial thyroidectomy following a suspected diagnosis of multi-nodular goitre from US-FNAC. One patient required tracheostomy for airway management.

Diagnosis of TL may be difficult. However, US-FNAC is useful in raising the suspicion of a TL. Open biopsy is still the definitive diagnostic tool of choice. In the emergency setting of airway obstruction, once definitive diagnosis is achieved, dexamethasone therapy and endotracheal intubation for airway management are all that is required for optimal management strategy. Surgical intervention has no role except for providing tissue for diagnosis.