[Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the thyroid. Pathologic study of a case]

The authors report a case of malignant tumor of the thyroid in a 79 years old woman with a long standing goiter for 20 years but who did not live in endemic mountainous goiter area. The right lobe of the thyroid was surgically removed in February 1992 because increasing in size. Pathologic diagnosis was non malignant cystic lesion. Two months later, a recurrence with dyspnea urged a tracheostomy. The patient died 9 days later because of intra bronchial and pleura hemorrhage. The morphological and immuno-histochemical investigations showed angiosarcomatous features and positive reactivity with Factor VIII and UEA 1 markers in the tumour and pulmonary metastases. The diagnosis of Malignant hemangio-endothelioma was concluded.