Morphologic changes in the thyroid after irradiation for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Four cases of thyroidectomy for suspected thyroid carcinoma after previous irradiation for Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are reviewed. The patients ranged in age from 18 to 33 years at the time of thyroid surgery with an average latency period of 12 years (range, 8-20 years) from radiation therapy to thyroidectomy. All patients had a clinically palpable thyroid nodule, and pathologically showed a pattern of multiple adenomatous nodules with cytologic atypia. The microscopic changes were sufficiently striking to cause the primary pathologist to request consultation to rule out thyroid carcinoma in each case. Fine-needle aspiration was performed in one case and suggested a thyroid neoplasm. The pathologic findings are reviewed and distinction of this lesion from thyroid carcinoma is discussed.