Radiology, Vol 168, 765-768, Copyright © 1988 by Radiological Society of North America
Primary thyroid lymphoma: evaluation with CT
S Takashima, J Ikezoe, S Morimoto, J Arisawa, S Hamada, H Ikeda, N Masaki and T Kozuka
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
The appearance of primary thyroid lymphoma on computed tomographic (CT)
scans and clinical data for 15 patients were analyzed. The CT appearances
were classified into three types: 12 patients (80%) had a solitary nodule
(type 1), two (13%) had multiple nodules (type 2), and one (7%) had a
diffuse goiter (type 3). In 47% of cases, both lobes were involved. The
tumors had a strong tendency to compress (80%) or infiltrate (53%) the
surrounding structures. The frequency of calcification (7%) or necrosis
(7%) was low. Most patients (87%) had a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass, and
six (40%) complained of symptoms from obstruction. All patients had
coexistent Hashimoto thyroiditis. In 13 of 15 patients (87%), a highly
probable diagnosis of thyroid lymphomas was determined with CT and clinical
findings. A staging workup with CT and clinical findings confirmed at
biopsy will allow appropriate therapy and may lead to improved prognosis
for patients with this condition.
