Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review

IntroductionPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Although surgery, chemotherapy and other treatment methods have been reported, the current treatment modality has not reached a consensus. This study discusses th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xueliang Liu, Shang Ma, Yuxin Zheng, Zeming Xu, Hui Hao, Hongyan Ma, Qian Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1631714/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849304200049065984
author Xueliang Liu
Shang Ma
Yuxin Zheng
Zeming Xu
Hui Hao
Hongyan Ma
Qian Xu
author_facet Xueliang Liu
Shang Ma
Yuxin Zheng
Zeming Xu
Hui Hao
Hongyan Ma
Qian Xu
author_sort Xueliang Liu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Although surgery, chemotherapy and other treatment methods have been reported, the current treatment modality has not reached a consensus. This study discusses the diagnosis and treatment of a case of PSCCT with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion and reviews the relevant literature. We report the disease of rapidly enlarging mass leading to asphyxiation to raise clinicians’ awareness of this condition.Case presentationWe report a 76-year-old woman presenting with an enlarging right thyroid mass accompanied by severe dyspnea and hoarseness. Computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a large solid heterogenous nodule with calcification in the right thyroid lobe and prominent adjacent lymph nodes. PSCCT was confirmed by postoperative histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Thyroidectomy with partial tracheectomy and tracheostomy was performed to relieve the patient’s dyspnea. The patient has been discharged after receiving post-operative supportive care.ConclusionClinicians should pay attention to the rapidly enlarging neck mass as it may cause asphyxiation and avoid the loss of treatment opportunities.
format Article
id doaj-art-82ca25fcb5ef49e4aea750ccdb5f403a
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-82ca25fcb5ef49e4aea750ccdb5f403a2025-08-20T03:55:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16317141631714Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature reviewXueliang Liu0Shang Ma1Yuxin Zheng2Zeming Xu3Hui Hao4Hongyan Ma5Qian Xu6Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Cangzhou People’s Hospital, Cangzhou, ChinaIntroductionPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Although surgery, chemotherapy and other treatment methods have been reported, the current treatment modality has not reached a consensus. This study discusses the diagnosis and treatment of a case of PSCCT with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion and reviews the relevant literature. We report the disease of rapidly enlarging mass leading to asphyxiation to raise clinicians’ awareness of this condition.Case presentationWe report a 76-year-old woman presenting with an enlarging right thyroid mass accompanied by severe dyspnea and hoarseness. Computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a large solid heterogenous nodule with calcification in the right thyroid lobe and prominent adjacent lymph nodes. PSCCT was confirmed by postoperative histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Thyroidectomy with partial tracheectomy and tracheostomy was performed to relieve the patient’s dyspnea. The patient has been discharged after receiving post-operative supportive care.ConclusionClinicians should pay attention to the rapidly enlarging neck mass as it may cause asphyxiation and avoid the loss of treatment opportunities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1631714/fullthyroid cancerprimary squamous cell carcinomathyroidcase reportrespiratory stenosis
spellingShingle Xueliang Liu
Shang Ma
Yuxin Zheng
Zeming Xu
Hui Hao
Hongyan Ma
Qian Xu
Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
Frontiers in Medicine
thyroid cancer
primary squamous cell carcinoma
thyroid
case report
respiratory stenosis
title Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
title_full Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
title_fullStr Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
title_full_unstemmed Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
title_short Primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion: a case report with literature review
title_sort primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma with severe respiratory stenosis and endotracheal invasion a case report with literature review
topic thyroid cancer
primary squamous cell carcinoma
thyroid
case report
respiratory stenosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1631714/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xueliangliu primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT shangma primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT yuxinzheng primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT zemingxu primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT huihao primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT hongyanma primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview
AT qianxu primarythyroidsquamouscellcarcinomawithsevererespiratorystenosisandendotrachealinvasionacasereportwithliteraturereview