English

Abstract

Incomplete atrophy of thyroglossal tract or retained epithelial cysts, creates the basis for the origin of a thyroglossal duct cyst. Thyroglossal duct cysts are the most common anomaly in thyroid development that occurs in 7% of adult population. In general duct cysts are benign and the incidence of a carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is very rare, the incidence of which is 1% of all cysts. The vast majority of these are papillary carcinoma (82%), other types of malignancies occurring being mixed papillary and follicular carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, follicular carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma in descending order of frequency. Review of literature has revealed 25 reported cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct cyst till date.[1] CASE REPORT We present a case of a forty nine year old male patient, who presented with a swelling in front of the neck which gradually appeared over 4 months with associated change in voice. Further investigations revealed a squamous cell carcinoma with features suggesting the site of origin to be the thyroglossal duct. Sistrunk’s operation was done under general anaesthesia, followed by postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSION Malignancy, although rare, within a thyroglossal duct cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses. Aggressive treatment in the form of a combined modality of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is usually the preferred plan of treatment.