Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid associated with leukocytosis and hypercalcemia.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare, aggressive neoplasm with a uniformly poor prognosis. Described herein is a case of a 66-year-old man with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid associated with hypercalcemia (13 mg/dL [3.24 mmol/L]) and unexplained leukocytosis (28,400/mm3 [28.4 X 10(9)/L]). The histogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid remains controversial. The associated hypercalcemia and leukocytosis most likely represent a form of paraneoplastic syndrome; possible mechanisms will be discussed in the light of recent studies on tumor-derived mediators.
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology