Invasive primary papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

PatientFemale, 46. Clinical procedureSistrunk's procedure, Total Thyroidectomy and excision of the cervical lymph nodes. BackgroundThyroglossal duct cyst is the commonest congenital anomaly of the thyroid gland. Occurrence of malignancy in a thyroglossal duct cyst is considered a rare condition, forming 1% of all cases of thyroglossal duct cyst. Here in the current report we presented a rare case of primary papillary carcinoma which arise in a thyroglossal duct cyst and a review of the literature. Case reportOur case is a 46-year-old female patient who presented with a painless cystic mass in front of the neck. After initial physical examination we have performed fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the cyst which revealed a papillary neoplasm. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with excision of the cervical lymph nodes and surgical excision of the thyroglossal duct cyst (the Sistrunk's procedure). Histopathology of the specimen revealed a thyroglossal duct cyst which contains a primary invasive papillary carcinoma that infiltrated the cyst wall. The thyroid gland was normal, most of the cervical lymph node was positive for PTC. ConclusionsPrimary papillary carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst is a rare condition that should be considered in patients with cystic midline neck masses. Surgery and radical excision is the optimal patient management to improve survival.