Primary Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma of Thyroid Gland; Germinal Center and Non-germinal Center B Types: Experience of a Single Center

Abstract

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype accounting for approximately 70% of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) cases. Its prognosis depends on the histology, spread, and the stage of the disease. DLBCL usually displays a better prognosis, but it shows heterogeneity according to the histological subtype. Germinal center B cell (GCB) subtype has a more favorable prognosis than the non-germinal center (non-GCB) subtype. Most of these patients required combined modality management. This study included eight patients with stage I/IIE thyroid DLBCL. Analysis of clinicopathologic features of all PTL patients diagnosed at Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine. Pathology reports and slides of patients diagnosed between years of 2000 and 2013 were evaluated. Four of them were GCB and the other four cases were non-GCB type. All patients underwent thyroidectomy. Three of them were treated with chemotherapy and the three patients were treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. Five patients are presently alive. Due to the fact that PTLs are rare types of tumors, only small case series were published in that field. Increasing the number of cases in the literature for thyroid DLBCL, its histopathologic features will provide a better understanding.