Thyroid Lymphoma: A Rare But Aggressive Cancer

Thyroid lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is often seen in people who have had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for many years. Chronic inflammation in the thyroid gland creates conditions that allow abnormal lymphoid cells to grow, eventually leading to lymphoma. Because the disease grows quickly, recognizing early warning signs and getting the right diagnosis are extremely important.

Symptoms and challenges

Patients experience a quickly enlarging mass in the neck with compressive symptoms like difficulty breathing or swallowing. Vocal cord paralysis can cause hoarseness if the tumor affects the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Usually, common thyroid nodules are slow-growing, and quick enlargement is a key symptom of an aggressive tumor. 

Diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma is challenging, as fine-needle aspiration cytology, the standard test for thyroid nodules, can give inconclusive results. This happens due to the lymphoid cells being mistaken for anaplastic carcinoma or benign inflammation. A core needle biopsy or excisional biopsy is needed to get sufficient tissue for a definitive diagnosis and subtyping. Accurate diagnosis and early intervention are crucial due to the aggressive nature of this rare thyroid lymphoma.

Standard treatment options

Chemotherapy is the primary standard treatment option with medications like R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), which target the underlying lymphoproliferation. It is highly effective against the tumor mass and the elimination of systemic disease.

Another is radiation therapy, which complements chemotherapy for localized stage 1 and stage 2 diseases. Radiation is directed at the affected thyroid region and the affected lymph nodes to locally control and avoid relapse. Unlike many other thyroid cancers, surgery is rarely needed. Thyroidectomy is considered only when the swelling causes severe compression that cannot be managed with medical treatment. The overall goal is to start treatment quickly and effectively, as this cancer can grow rapidly.

Managing thyroid functioning in the long term

Thyroid function may be affected by both the disease and its treatment. The lymphoma itself can damage normal thyroid tissue, and radiation to the neck can reduce thyroid hormone production.
Patients often need:

• Regular thyroid blood tests (TSH and Free T4)
• Long-term or lifelong thyroid hormone replacement
  

Prognosis of patients

The outlook is encouraging when thyroid lymphoma is detected early. Patients with stage 1 or stage 2 have excellent survival rates, exceeding 75%. Patients with advanced stages, like stage 3 or stage 4, or high-grade subtypes, have a less favorable prognosis. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important to improve prognosis.

What you should remember

Thyroid lymphoma is a type of thyroid cancer that often affects people who have had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for a long time. One of the biggest signs is the neck suddenly getting larger very quickly. Doctors use special tests and biopsies to find the exact kind of lymphoma a person has. This cancer can grow fast, but many people get better when it is found early and treated with chemotherapy and radiation. With quick diagnosis and proper care, the chances of recovery are getting stronger, giving patients and their families more hope.