Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cervico-facial non hodgkin lymphomas are rare conditions; they represent 5% of all malignant tumors of the head and neck. Their localizations are essentially lymph nodes but all the organs can be affected.

Purpose of the presentation: The objective of this work is to determine the clinical, histological and therapeutic aspects of malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma localized in the thyroid gland.

Methods: This is a retrospective study about 4 patients treated for a malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the thyroid gland, in the ENT and hematology departments of Fattouma Bourguiba hospital in Monastir over a period of 20 years (2000-2019).

Results: The average age was 48 years. A female predominance was noted. The average consultation time was 6 months. Patients consulted for a rapidly progressive goitre in all cases, associated with dysphagia and dyspnea in 3 cases (75%). Cervical examination showed a painful, mobile and indurated anterior cervical swelling in all patients. Associated lymph nodes were found in only one case (25%). Cervical ultrasound and cervico-thoracic scan showed a mass pushing back the trachea in two cases (50%). Fine needle aspiration showed an aspect of a large cell lymphoma of thyroid gland in 2 cases (50%). In the histological examination, it was a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the 4 cases. The extension assessment did not objectivize other synchronous locations. Three patients were classified at stage IA, one patient at stage IIA. The treatment consisted on chemotherapy in all patients with no tumor recurrence or relapse in all cases with an average follow-up of 24 months.

Conclusion: Malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the thyroid gland is a rare disease. The treatment often gives good results and the prognosis depends essentially on the tumor stage and the speed of treatment.