Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Thyroid Gland: A Population-Based Analysis Using the SEER Database

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Thyroid Cancer Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Primary squamous cell carcinoma in thyroid (PSCCTh) is a rare and aggressive malignancy.
• Understanding prognostic factors and treatment outcomes is crucial for improving patient survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate prognostic factors and treatment outcomes for PSCCTh.
• To analyze survival data from a large national database over several decades.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18-registry database to identify 242 PSCCTh patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2015.
• Collected and analyzed clinical data to determine prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Main Results:

• Age over 60 and tumor size ≥50 mm were independent negative prognostic factors for PSCCTh.
• Morphological subtype, clinical treatment modality, and T stage significantly predicted OS and DSS.
• Gender, race, diagnosis year, location, N stage, and M stage were not found to be prognostic factors.

Conclusions:

• PSCCTh is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis.
• Treatment modality, patient age, T stage, tumor size, and morphological subtypes are key predictors of survival.
• Early diagnosis and treatment, including surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy, are associated with better outcomes.