[Thyroid squamous-cell carcinoma showing thymus-like element (CASTLE): a report of eight cases].
OBJECTIVE
To report 8 cases of squamous-cell carcinoma showing thymus-like element (CASTLE) of the thyroid.


METHODS
Clinical data and pathological sections were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
CASTLE of the thyroid differed from ordinary squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) in that it not only presented typical squamous pattern of differentiation, but also admixed with thymic architecture, such as Hassall's corpuscles, lymphoepithelial-like structure and mature lymphocyte infiltration in the stroma. CASTLE of the thyroid and much better prognosis than that of the ordinary SCC of the thyroid with a median survival time of 10.5 year. Histogenesis of CASTLE was discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid CASTLE is of rare occurrence. It should be distinguished from SCC of thyroid in order to treat such patients adequately.
Da
J
J
Air Force General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100036.
Shi
H
H
Lu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*