title: Thyroid lymphoma: acute presentation and long-term outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid lymphomas are relatively uncommon. This study aimed to analyse our experience of thyroid lymphoma management and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case note analysis of 63 patients treated in the previous 13 years was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The five-year survival rate was 68 per cent, with most patients dying of their lymphoma. This is at odds with the British Thyroid Association statement that the prognosis of this condition is 'generally excellent'. The only presenting symptom found to be significantly associated with prognosis was dysphagia (p = 0.001). Dual modality treatment provided a significantly better outcome than single modality treatment (p = 0.014). Thyroid lymphoma can present to the head and neck surgeon 'in extremis'; however, it can respond rapidly to appropriate treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of thyroid lymphoma seems unrelated to the acuteness of its presentation. Thyroid surgery has no role other than for diagnosis. However, 51 per cent of the study patients underwent some form of thyroidectomy, indicating the need to implement better diagnostic pathways.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK. susannahpenney@btinternet.com
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom