Malignant lymphoma of the thyroid may present as a thyroid nodule but more often causes gross symmetrical firm enlargement of the gland, and also dysphagia and dyspnoea, especially when the head is flexed. The condition may be mimicked by the fibrous variant of Hashimoto's goitre. The management, by a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, is similar to that applied to lymphomas in other situations; thyroxine replacement is also indicated. Although the prognosis of high-grade lymphomas is very poor, it is better in low-grade tumours.
