Thyroid lymphoma presenting as slow-growing goiter: case study

Recently researchers reported an unusual presentation of Goitre which on surgical pathology presented as a Thyroid Lymphoma with mixed B cell components. The unusual case was presented in the Journal "International Journal of Surgery Case Reports" 2020.

Lymphoma represents < 5% of all primary thyroid malignancies. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a known risk factor for thyroid lymphoma. Rapid growing goiters, generally, can turn into malignancy but not slow-growing ones. Most of the thyroid masses with inflammation and obstructive symptoms have benign cytology. The diagnostic modality of choice for thyroid masses is ultrasonography with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) but if there are any infiltrative masses, FNAC can be challenging.

Researchers from the University of Miami and Yale School of Medicine presented an unusual case of a 58-year-old Caucasian female who presented with a right thyroid nodule associated with compressive symptoms for 18 months duration. Related medical history included obstructive sleep apnea with nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure use, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux for the past 3 years. there was a positive family history of cancers.