Primary lymphomas of the thyroid gland.

Twelve patients with primary lymphoma of the thyroid gland were reviewed. Based on clinical observations of this group of patients and a review of the literature, a composite clinical picture can be drawn of the patient at high risk of having primary lymphoma of the thyroid gland. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with a history of lymphocytic thyroiditis and an enlarging neck mass, tender or nontender. The mass may be cold or cool with areas of patchy uptake shown on scintillation scanning. The patient has a greater than 50% chance of having hoarseness with or without vocal cord paralysis. We also review the pathogenesis and prognosis of primary lymphoma of the thyroid gland.