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Case Reports
. 2025 Jul 25:12:1631714.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1631714. eCollection 2025.

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

Xueliang Liu  1 , Shang Ma  1 , Yuxin Zheng  1 , Zeming Xu  1 , Hui Hao  2 , Hongyan Ma  3 , Qian Xu  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

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

Xueliang Liu et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Introduction: Primary 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 presentation: We 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.

Conclusion: Clinicians should pay attention to the rapidly enlarging neck mass as it may cause asphyxiation and avoid the loss of treatment opportunities.

Keywords: case report; primary squamous cell carcinoma; respiratory stenosis; thyroid; thyroid cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Computed tomography of the chest and neck revealed tracheal stenosis (arrow) and left-sided deviation (coronal planes).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The same level of lung and mediastinal window CT scan show heterogeneously solid mass sized about 5.5 × 4 cm (A) in the right thyroid gland with calcification (B) and indistinct boundaries, tracheal stenosis (2 mm) and left deviation (A, lung window; B, mediastinal window).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The thyroid carcinoma has invaded into the trachea.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histopathologic evaluation revealed PSCCT (H&E, 200×): poorly differentiated tumor cells and typical nuclear heterogeneous cells (A). PSCC immunohistochemistry: CK5/6 (B) and P63 (C) were positive (deeply membranes and nuclei stained respectively), indicating the source of squamous cells; CK19 was positive for membranes stained (D) (400×).
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