Simultaneous primary thyroid MALT lymphoma and papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract

The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma subtype, specifically extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, is a rare variant. Within this subtype, primary thyroid MALT lymphoma is an uncommon occurrence. The literature provides limited documentation on thyroid MALT lymphomas, as their prevalence is comparatively lower than in other organ sites. The coexistence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and thyroid MALT lymphomas is exceedingly rare. It presents a rare case of primary thyroid MALT lymphoma accompanied by PTC, thyroid lymphoma not being considered before surgery. A 64-year-old female patient, who had been experiencing symptoms related to a substantial thyroid tumor for a duration of three years, she refused to do a needle biopsy before surgery and expressed a preference for surgical resection. Consequently, the patient underwent a total thyroidectomy along with lymphadenectomy of the central compartment. A histological examination subsequently confirmed the presence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Due to the favorable response of the MALT lymphoma to local treatment and the absence of metastasis in other organs, no further treatment was administered for the MALT lymphoma following the surgery. Currently, the patient exhibits no signs of tumor recurrence based on ultrasound and laboratory evaluations. We also provide an overview of the clinical findings on PTC and MALT lymphoma patients already reported and discuss the possible treatment strategy.