title: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical features and treatment protocol of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (SCCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of four SCCT patients treated during 1985--99 were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients who underwent surgical excision plus radiotherapy died of local tumour recurrence, 6 and 13 months, respectively, post-operatively. One who accepted surgery only died 4 months later of respiratory distress. The fourth patient who had radical surgery coupled with radiotherapy and chemotherapy was disease-free at 26-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCCT is a very rare but highly malignant carcinoma. Early diagnosis and an aggressive radical surgery portend a better prognosis. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are secondary applicable methods for the patients with certain condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China. zhouxh78@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D013965:Thyroidectomy