Primary Thyroid Sarcoma: A Systematic Review
Alexey Surov1, Sebastian Gottschling2, Andreas Wienke3
1Department of Radiology, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Department of Diagnostic and Interventionell Radiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany alex.surow@medizin.uni-halle.de Alexey.Surov@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
Anticancer Research
|September 27, 2015
Summary
This study analyzed primary thyroid sarcomas (PTS) in 142 patients, detailing their clinical and radiological features. Findings aid in differentiating these rare thyroid cancers from more common tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Thyroid malignancies encompass various tumor types, with primary cancers being most common.
- Non-epithelial malignancies, such as sarcomas, can also originate in the thyroid gland.
- Primary thyroid sarcomas (PTS) are rare, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical and radiological features of primary thyroid sarcomas (PTS).
- To provide data for the differential diagnosis of thyroid tumors.
- To establish a foundation for understanding PTS based on a large case sample.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review of the PubMed database was conducted for articles published between 1990 and 2014.
- Data from 142 patients across 86 articles were analyzed, focusing on clinical presentation and imaging characteristics.
- Imaging modalities included ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Main Results:
- PTS predominantly affected individuals over 40, with a peak incidence in the 60-79 age group.
- Common PTS types included angiosarcoma, malignant hemangioendothelioma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
- Radiologically, PTS often presented as mixed hypo-to-hyperechoic on ultrasound, inhomogeneous on CT, and showed marked enhancement on MRI, with 26.8% exhibiting adjacent organ infiltration.
Conclusions:
- Primary thyroid sarcomas exhibit distinct clinical and radiological features.
- Understanding these characteristics is crucial for accurate differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.
- The study highlights the importance of integrating imaging findings with clinical presentation for PTS management.
