Imaging findings of thyroidal sarcoma

Clin Imaging. 2014 Nov-Dec;38(6):826-30. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.06.019. Epub 2014 Jul 12.

Abstract

From 1997 to 2013, 8849 patients with several disorders of the thyroid were treated in our surgical department. In nine patients (0.1%), primary thyroid sarcoma (PTS) was diagnosed. In eight patients, PTS manifested as a thyroid mass (range, 25-90 mm). In one case, a global enlargement of the thyroid was seen. Clinically, all patients presented with neck swelling. On ultrasound, PTS was predominantly hypoechoic. On computed tomography, the sarcomas were hypodense. On magnetic resonance imaging, PTS had inhomogeneous signal increase on T2-weighted images and signal decrease on T1-weighted images with inhomogeneous enhancement.

Keywords: Clinical signs; Frequency; Primary thyroid gland sarcoma; Radiological features.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA