Studies from A.S. Jacobson et al add new findings in the area of thyroid cancer
February 9th, 2009
2009 FEB 9 -- "The term ''collision tumor'' refers to the coexistence of two histologically distinct malignant tumors within the same mass. Collision tumors involving the thyroid gland and/ or neck region are especially uncommon, with most reported cases involving papillary thyroid carcinoma in coexistence with medullary thyroid carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and metastatic disease, the latter including a rare occurrence of metastatic liposarcoma and thyroid papillary carcinoma," scientists in the United States report.
"A collision tumor of papillary thyroid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma primary to the thyroid has also been reported. We now report a collision tumor comprised of well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that originated as a laryngeal primary tumor. Histologically, the thyroid mass is consisted of well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. The laryngeal mass consisted of in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Both cancers were extensively infiltrative into the soft tissues of the neck and paraglottic space where the histologically distinct tumor types approximated one another but were not admixed with each other. Additionally, cervical lymph nodes showed metastatic carcinoma, including independent cervical lymph nodes with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma only, cervical lymph nodes with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma only, and cervical lymph nodes with foci of both papillary thyroid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. As best we can determine this is the first publication of a collision tumor comprised of a well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that originated as a laryngeal primary tumor," wrote A.S. Jacobson and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "For any patient with a thyroid mass that appears to be in continuity with a laryngeal mass, more commonly one would find invasive thyroid cancer, but one must consider a collision tumor in the differential diagnosis."
Jacobson and colleagues published their study in Thyroid (Collision Tumor of the Thyroid and Larynx: A Patient with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Colliding with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Thyroid, 2008;18(12):1325-1328).
For more information, contact A.S. Jacobson, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Center, Dept. of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Institute Head Neck & Thyroid Cancer, 10 Union Sq E, Suite 5B, New York City, NY 10003, USA.
Publisher contact information for the journal Thyroid is: Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 140 Huguenot Street, 3RD FL, New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA.
Keywords: United States, New York, Endocrinology, Liposarcoma, Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, Oncology, Papillary Cancer, Papillary Carcinoma, Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Thyroid Carcinoma.
This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
