Palliative Radiation in Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Thyroid: A Rare Case Report

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare neoplasm with aggressive behavior. Until date, only around 60 cases have been reported in the literature. Primary treatment of the patient is radical surgery. With optimum treatment survival is not more than 6 months in this aggressive malignancy. However in our patient surgery it was not possible because of unresectability of the mass due to encroachment of major vessels. Hence, we have delivered radiotherapy alone, with which effective palliation could be achieved and patient is leading a good quality-of-life for last 1 year.     

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach: a case report and literature review

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach is rare. Its pathogenesis is also unclear and there are conflicting reports about it in the past. Only about 100 cases have been reported so far in the literature. The current study discusses a new case of gastric squamous cell carcinoma, from a 50-year-old Chinese male patient diagnosed via subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction and D2 lymphadenectomy. In the stomach, an ulcerated mass in the antrum, measuring 12×8×6 cm, was observed. Further, pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a well-differentiated SCC. Observations indicated tumor cell invasion into the serosa, and encroachment into perigastric regional lymph node. A follow-up abdominal CT scan three months later revealed tumor invasion into the ascending colon. We assume that this invaded mass was transferred from the gastric squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, the patient is still alive.     

Huge renal cyst with parietal renal cell carcinoma,osseous metaplasia and a papillary adenoma: a case report with unique clinicopathological features and literature review

The unique clinicopathological features of a giant solitary renal cyst with a parietal clear cell carcinoma in contiguity with a focus of osseous metaplasia and a papillary adenoma are reported. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a single cyst with a focal wall irregularity. During surgery, a frozen section revealed the presence of a renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type, so a nephrectomy was performed. After extensive pathological sampling of the cyst's wall, a focus of osseous metaplasia in contiguity with the main tumour and a microscopic papillary adenoma were found. Diagnostic implications for the present case are discussed within a pertinent literature review.     

Prevalence and prognostic significance of tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, prognostic factors, and long-term outcome of tall cell variant (TCV) in comparison with the conventional forms of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A total of 945 patients with thyroid cancer were treated and followed up from 1960 to 1998. Pathologic review was performed in 778 patients (84%) of the cohort. Of these, 674 had PTC: 503 (74%) had conventional form (CF); 56 (8%), TCV; and 155 (17%), other variants of PTC. Tall cell variant was associated with tumors of larger size (P < .001), bilaterality (P < .02), multifocality (P < .04), and extrathyroidal invasion (P < .001). Treatment was similar in both groups, but neck dissection was performed more frequently in patients with TCV (P < .04). The 10-year overall and event-free survival rates were, respectively, 90% and 85% in the CF versus 79% and 67% in the TCV group (P < .001). Histologic subtype did not have an effect on clinical outcome after multivariate analysis, the most relevant factors being age, involved nodes, or the "Metastasis, Age, Completeness, Invasion, Size" classification after multivariate analysis. In this large cohort of patients, TCV represents 8.3% of PTC, and it is a more aggressive form of PTC than CF because of the higher stage and increased grade.     

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with pseudoangiosarcomatous features and aberrant expression of vascular markers

Squamous cell carcinoma with pseudoangiosarcomatous features is a rare but well-recognized variant of squamous cell carcinoma. These tumors exhibit complex anastomosing channels lined by neoplastic cells, histologically mimicking a vasoformative mesenchymal tumor. Immunohistochemically, the published cases expressed epithelial markers and were consistently negative for vascular markers. Squamous cell carcinoma with pseudoangiosarcomatous features and aberrant expression of vascular markers has never been reported. Herein, we report two cases of metastatic poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with pseudoangiosarcomatous morphologic features which showed immunoreactivity for vascular markers (CD31, Fli-1, and ERG). One case (left thigh skin squamous cell carcinoma with abdominal wall metastasis) showed strong and diffuse positivity for vascular markers, and the final diagnosis was confirmed with electron microscopy. The second case (squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary site with bone metastasis) showed patchy positivity for both squamous and vascular markers. This is the first report of squamous cell carcinoma with pseudoangiosarcomatous features and aberrant expression of vascular markers, which resembles angiosarcoma both morphologically and immunohistochemically, and may represent a potential diagnostic pitfall. It is of crucial importance for pathologists to be aware of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with such unique features, so that misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment will be avoided.     

Carcinosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with nephrolithiasis: a case report of each tumor type

Both squamous cell carcinoma and carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis are uncommon. We report on two cases, one carcinosarcoma and one squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. In the patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the left kidney, the tumor was neither detectable on preoperative radiological evaluation nor grossly visible in the surgical specimen. This patient, a 56-year-old man, presented with left lumbar pain, hematuria, fever, 4-5 kg weight loss, and untreated nephrolithiasis of the left kidney that had been diagnosed 20 years earlier. The second patient, an 87-year-old woman, also had a long history of left kidney nephrolithiasis and presented with left lumbar pain and hematuria. Both patients underwent nephrectomy for removal of the non-functioning hydronephrotic left kidney. In both cases, microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed squamous metaplasia and dysplasia in the pelvicalyceal mucosa, and islands of atypical squamous cells in the renal parenchyma. In the second case, the kidney also showed sarcomatous changes in the pelvis.     

Pancreatic metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

In this article we give a case report on a PTC patient with pancreatic metastasis. In this case, the patient was admitted to our hospital for recurrence of PTC and occupying pancreatic lesions. We considered that the pancreatic neoplasm may be pancreatic metastasis of PTC but there is no previous experience about therapeutic approaches to this type of metastases. After some discussion the distant metastasis within the pancreas was successfully removed by a laparotomy and postoperative histology confirmed the diagnosis. After that surgery, the patient recovered well and then received total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection for recurrent thyroid cancer. After recovery he was discharged from hospital without further treatment. Eventually, he died of acute myocardial infarction in January 2010. To conclude, it is widely believed that the surgical operation should be chosen more positively in the management of those patients without multiple organ metastases. Thus on one hand it can serve to make a definite diagnosis, and on the other hand it can help the body get rid of the bulk of the tumor burden to prolong survival time of the patients.     

Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with foci of columnar cell component

 We report a case of the tall call variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with foci of columnar cell component in a 67-year-old Japanese man. Tall cell variant occupied more than 70% of the tumour, and columnar cell component was of two types in representative sections. One showed striking stratification of nuclei with scanty cytoplasm, and the other appeared clear. Characteristic nuclear features of papillary carcinoma were also observed in the area of the tall cell variant. The patient died of the thyroid cancer with aspiration pneumonia 10 years and 6 months after operation. Although autopsy was not performed, metastatic lymph nodes of the neck removed during life also showed papillary carcinoma with both tall cell and columnar cell components. Our case indicates that tall cell and columnar cell variants may coexist in the same tumour although the pathogenesis remains unclear. Received: 12 June 1998 / Accepted: 27 July 1998     

Chromoblastomycosis by Exophiala jeanselmei associated with squamous cell carcinoma

Chromoblastomycosis is a subcutaneous, chronic, granulomatous mycosis that occurs more frequently in tropical and subtropical countries. Herein, we describe a case of a 90-year-old female patient with diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis by Exophiala jeanselmei with a 22-year evolution who developed a squamous cell carcinoma. In the meantime, She underwent two misdiagnoses and an unnecessary operation. This case is also the fifth case of E. jeanselmei caused CBM in history.     

Composite follicular variant of papillary carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of thyroid gland: a case report

A 50-yr-old male presented a thyroid mass with dysphasia and hoarseness. He underwent total thyroidectomy and neck node dissection. Pathologically, the tumor had two distinct tumor components with intermingled areas: follicular variant of papillary carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma composed of columnar cells, mucocytes, and squamoid cells showing solid and cystic lesion. Several small cysts lined by benign ciliated columnar epithelia suggesting that this tumor had originated from solid cell nest were seen around the tumor. By immunohistochemistry, columnar cells and squamoid cells in mucoepidermoid carcinoma were positive for cytokeratin but negative for thyroglobulin, TTF-1 and calcitonin. Positivity of p63 was seen in squamoid cells and basal cells of cysts. Some mucocytes are CEA positive. Tumor cells of papillary carcinoma are positive for TTF-1, thyroglobulin but negative for CEA, calcitonin and p63.     

Squamous Differentiation in Thyroid Carcinoma With Special Reference to Histogenesis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid

Squamous differentiation of thyroid carcinoma was studied clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically in 29 autopsy cases. Tumor cell nests with squamous differentiation (CNSD), which histologically resembled squamous cell carcinoma, were found in 6 cases (20.7%). All of these 6 cases with CNSD had areas of undifferentiated carcinoma, representing 31.6% of 19 cases with undifferentiated carcinoma, and all but one case also showed coexisting papillary carcinoma. The CNSD were histologically associated with undifferentiated carcinoma in 5 cases, and with papillary carcinoma in one case; the CNSD were occasionally intermingled with these types of carcinoma, and there were findings suggesting a histological transition between the CNSD and undifferentiated carcinoma or papillary carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed that all the CNSD were reactive with antibodies for keratin and vimentin, whereas thyroglobulin and desmin were not expressed. It was concluded that the CNSD examined here were most probably due to extensive squamous differentiation (squamous metaplasia) in undifferentiated carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. In addition, the present results may explain the fact that cases diagnosed solely as squamous cell carcinoma sometimes show a prognosis similar to that of undifferentiated carcinoma, and may well represent extensive squamous differentiation in such tumors rather than true squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Acta Pathol Jpn 39: 306 312, 1989.     

Nuclear crease as a cytodiagnostic feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma in fine-needle aspiration biopsies

Nuclear crease or grooving was found to be a diagnostic feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies. The FNA biopsies of 37 cases of PTC, 50 cases of multinodular goiter, and 50 cases of follicular neoplasms (45 follicular adenomas and five follicular carcinomas) were examined. The diagnosis was histologically verified in all the cases. The nuclear crease was found to be present in 34 of 37 cases of PTC and in two of five cases of follicular carcinoma. There was no nuclear crease in any of the other cases examined. Thus, it is concluded that the nuclear crease is a fairly constant and characteristic feature of PTC in FNA biopsies and can be used as a valuable diagnostic criterion.     

A case of an ectopic thyroid gland at the lateral neck masquerading as a metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma

Ectopic thyroid glands generally occur in the midline as a result of abnormal median migration, and their presence lateral to the midline is rare. We present one case of an ectopic thyroid gland masquerading as a lateral neck metastasis of a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In this case of a 54-yr-old woman with left PTC, we suspected left lateral neck metastasis on preoperative neck computed tomography. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, central compartment neck dissection, and left modified radical neck dissection (MRND). The patient was diagnosed as having an accessory thyroid gland on the lateral neck on the final pathologic report. Surgeons should be aware of the existence of an ectopic thyroid gland in unusual locations.     

Thyroid metastasis of clear cell renal carcinoma: Report of a case

Renal cell carcinoma can recur many years after diagnosis and nephrectomy metastasizing even in uncommon sites, including thyroid gland. Thyroid metastases are extremely rare, the most frequent site of origin are renal tumors. Metastases in thyroid gland appear as painless nodules or masses, “cold” at scintiscan. We report the case of a 67‐year‐old male patient affected by clear cell renal carcinoma, diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration cytology procedures, and treated with anticancer medical therapy, who noticed after some months a mass in the neck‐thyroid region requiring deeper medical investigations. By this way, thyroid fine‐needle aspiration cytology reported a lesion made of malignant epithelial cells compatible with metastases of renal carcinoma (clear cell). Clinical and pathological data, together with immunostaining, supported the diagnosis of metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma. The diagnosis of metastatic disease, although difficult clinically and pathologically, should be suspected in patients with a clinical history of cancer, particularly in case of renal cell carcinoma, but fine‐needle aspiration cytology can provide the clue for diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Renal papillary adenoma--a putative precursor of papillary renal cell carcinoma

The precursor lesions of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence, histomorphological features, and immunohistochemical features of papillary adenoma and elucidate its potential relationship to RCC. We reviewed 542 consecutive nephrectomy specimens over an 8-year period. Immunohistochemistry was carried out with antibodies specific for alpha-methyl-coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) and glutathione S-transferase alpha (clear-cell RCC marker). Thirty-eight (7%) nephrectomy specimens showed histologic evidence of papillary adenoma. Of these 38 cases, 18 (47%) arose in the setting of papillary RCC (PRCC). Seven papillary adenomas (18%) occurred in the setting of acquired polycystic kidney disease (APKD), 6 in clear-cell RCCs, 3 in chromophobe RCCs, 2 in end-stage kidney disease, 1 in oncocytoma, 1 in angiomyolipoma, and 1 in renal schwannoma. Furthermore, papillary adenomas were more commonly found in kidneys removed for PRCC (25%, 18/71) than in kidneys harboring clear-cell RCC (1.9%, 6/318). Histomorphologically, papillary adenomas were characterized by varying proportions of papillae and tubules formed by cuboidal cells with scant basophilic cytoplasm similar to those in type 1 PRCC. Adenomas associated with PRCC tend to be multiple in number (61% [11/18] of cases had >2 adenomas; mean, 5). In contrast, 100% of papillary adenomas arising in other conditions had less than 2 adenomas. Most of the adenomas (82%, 31/38) stained strongly for AMACR in a fashion similar to that of PRCC. The 7 AMACR-negative cases all arose in the setting of APKD. In this study of surgical specimens, the high coincidence, multifocality, and histologic and immunohistochemical similarities between papillary adenoma and PRCC suggest that the 2 are strongly associated and may represent a continuum of 1 biologic process. In contrast, adenomas associated with APKD exhibit distinct morphological and immunohistochemical features and, therefore, may have an entirely different pathogenesis.     

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder with squamous cell carcinomatous and osteosarcomatous differentiation: Report of a case

An extremely rare case of mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) of the gallbladder is reported, in which the tumor showed diverse differentiation toward neuroendocrine tumor (grade 2), tubular adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and, in addition, osteosarcoma. The patient was an 80‐year‐old man, who underwent cholecystectomy because of a large polypoid tumor filling the gallbladder lumen. The tumor consisted of an intimate admixture of neuroendocrine tumor (grade 2) and tubular adenocarcinoma, and, in many areas, cell nests of neuroendocrine tumor appeared to bud off from tubular structures of the adenocarcinoma, in a manner resembling the ‘ductulo‐insular complex’ seen in nesidioblastosis of the pancreas. Small areas of squamous cell carcinoma were also found. The stroma consisted of a dense proliferation of atypical spindle cells showing focal osteosarcomatous differentiation, and an apparent transition from an epithelial tissue component to atypical spindle cells was observed. Immunohistochemically, neuroendocrine cells were positive for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and serotonin, and the sarcomatoid stroma was partly immunoreactive for cytokeratin. The present case is the first example of MANEC of the gallbladder with simultaneous squamous cell carcinomatous and osteosarcomatous differentiation. ‘Neometaplasia’ of carcinoma cells in diverse directions was considered the most plausible explanation for the formation of this multifaceted neoplasm.     

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with lymphoid stroma

Summary We treated a 70-year-old Japanese man with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus with evidence of lymphoid stroma. The tumour consisted of a main lesion invading the muscular layer of the oesophagus, in association with wide areas of carcinoma in situ. The tumour stroma of the lesion was nondesmoplastic and was uniformly infiltrated mainly by abundant lymphocytes and plasma cells. Immunohistochemically, the lymphocytes consisted of a large number of T lymphocytes and a small number of B lymphocytes. S-100 protein positive cells were marked in the tumour cell nests and necrotic change of tumour cells was frequent. Abundant infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells was also wide-spread beneath the carcinoma in situ, together with the lymphoid follicles. Carcinoma with lymphoid stroma can occur not only in the breast, uterine cervix, nasopharynx and stomach but also in the oesophagus.     

Thyroid gland papillary carcinomas with "micropapillary pattern," a recently recognized poor prognostic finding: clinicopathologic and survival analysis of 7 cases

Micropapillary carcinoma is a histologic pattern, rather than an independent entity, that has an aggressive clinical behavior regardless of location. Histologically, it is characterized by papillary cell groups in clear spaces. The micropapillary pattern in the thyroid gland has not been studied until recently but under other names such as hobnail features or oncocytic and, therefore, is poorly understood, and reported cases are few. We report the clinicopathologic features of 7 cases obtained from a cohort of 496 papillary thyroid carcinomas, which corresponds to a prevalence of 1.4%. The proportion of the micropapillary component accounted for between 5% and 20% of the tumors, was slightly more prevalent in men, correlated with the presence of lymphovascular permeation, and, in the survival analysis, showed lower survival (even at a short follow-up, 8.5 years) than conventional carcinoma without this component (P = .001); this is consistent with poor overall survival in the short term (2-5 years) reported for carcinomas with micropapillary pattern of other locations. We believe that owing to this difference in survival (>95% of patients with conventional papillary carcinoma are alive at 8.5 years versus 42% of those having at least 5% of micropapillary pattern), the micropapillary pattern should be correctly identified and stated in the pathology report when comprising at least 5% of the tumor.