Thyroid cancer and malignant lymphoma – is there a relationship?

Overview

This article describes two cases of female patients who fell ill with thyroid cancer and malignant lymphoma. In the first case, the skin form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the left breast was diagnosed. The tumour was excised and the site was treated with radiotherapy at a total dose of 40 Gy. Seven years later the thyroid carcinoma appeared of probable radiogenic origin. A total thyroidectomy and ¹³¹I therapy were performed. Both malignancies are currently in long-term remission.

In the second case, a thyroid cancer was first documented. Long-term remission was achieved through the standard procedure of thyroid cancer treatment (surgery and ¹³¹I therapy). Eight years later enlarged neck lymph nodes appeared as the first sign of Hodgkin disease. Despite two years of haematological therapy the patient died.

Key words:
thyroid cancer, Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.