OCCULT LYMPH NODE METASTASIS FROM A THYROGLOSSAL DUCT CYST CARCINOMA: A CASE REPORT

¹Pendik Devlet Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Baş-Boyun Cerrahisi, İstanbul, Türkiye
²Devrek Devlet Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Baş-Boyun Cerrahisi, Zonguldak, Türkiye
³Avicenna Hospital, Kulak Burun Boğaz Baş-Boyun Cerrahisi, İstanbul, Türkiye
⁴Erciş Devlet Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Baş-Boyun Cerrahisi, Van, Türkiye
⁵Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Patoloji Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDC) are the most common congenital cystic masses of the neck. Malignancies arising from TGDC are quite uncommon, the prevalence of which has been reported to be 1%. TGDC carcinomas, which are usually diagnosed post-operatively, generally arise from the thyroid cells. The majority of TGDC carcinomas are papillary carcinomas. There are two opinions on the origin of TGDC carcinomas; one favors the thyroid itself while the other considers the TGDC as the origin of TGDC carcinomas. The treatment of TGDC carcinomas is controversial and the extent of the planned surgery depends on the risk group of the patient. A 44-year-old female presented to our clinic for evaluation of a painless, moderately solid mobile mass 5x6 cm in size located in the submental region in the mid-line of the neck. The mass was excised, and upon the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma in the thyroid tissue adjacent to a TGDC, she underwent a total thyroidectomy and selective neck dissection. This rare case is discussed in the light of the literature. Keywords : Thyroglossal duct cyst, papillary carcinoma, neck mass, total thyroidectomy