Rare Localization of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma on Thyroglossal Tract Cyst

Abstract

Thyroglossal tract cysts (TTCs) are common and degeneration is rare, occurring in only around 1 to 1.5 % of cases. Papillary carcinoma is the most common histological type. The clinical presentation of these cancers is very often non-specific, and their diagnosis is usually made postoperatively. Controversy surrounds the management of this type of neoplasia. We report the case of a 34-year-old patient who underwent surgery for an anterior cervical swelling that had been present since childhood, and whose histological examination was consistent with papillary carcinoma on KTT. He also underwent total thyroidectomy and iratherapy, and was put on a hormone suppression treatment even though the thyroid was unaffected, in the absence of consensus concerning this pathology. Progression after one year's follow-up remained favourable.