Lateral neck ectopic thyroid carcinoma: Rare location for ectopic malignancy

AbstractObjective:To review the diagnosis of primary papillary carcinoma of ectopic thyroid tissue within branchial cleft cysts, and to discuss the diagnostic challenge of differentiating this condition from metastatic disease when an occult microcarcinoma is found in the thyroid gland.Methods:These comprise a case report and a literature review. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman with papillary thyroid carcinoma within the wall of a recurrent, 15 cm, lateral neck cyst.Results:Histological examination of the patient's thyroid gland found a 0.5 mm papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Conclusion:Our differential diagnosis was primary papillary carcinoma arising from ectopic thyroid tissue, or metastatic cystic degeneration of a lateral lymph node. We make an argument for the former.

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Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma as a Lateral Neck Cyst: A Cystic Metastatic Node versus an Ectopic Thyroid Tissue

Case Reports in Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2018/5198297 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Frhana Rahmat ◽

Ananth Kumar Marutha Muthu ◽

Navarasi S Raja Gopal ◽

Soh Jo Han ◽

Azura Sharena Yahaya

Keyword(s):

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Total Thyroidectomy ◽

Primary Tumour ◽

Thyroid Tissue ◽

Ectopic Thyroid ◽

Lateral Neck ◽

Papillary Thyroid ◽

Histopathological Results

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid malignancy and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes. Occasionally, metastatic lymph nodes are palpable without the evidence of primary tumour. Papillary thyroid carcinoma of lateral neck cyst is a rare condition. It may arise from thyroid primary which underwent cystic degeneration or true malignant transformation of ectopic thyroid tissue. Herein, we reported two cases with preoperative diagnosis of benign lateral neck cyst but postoperative histopathological results showed primary papillary thyroid carcinoma. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the neck in both cases showed no significant thyroid lesion. However, the patient in Case 2 was subjected for total thyroidectomy and histopathological results showed the origin of primary tumour. In conclusion, thorough investigations including total thyroidectomy are indicated in cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma of lateral neck cyst. This practice is to ensure that this type of thyroid cancer can be detected earlier because it has a very good prognosis if treated earlier.

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Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Ectopic Malignancy versus Metastatic Disease

Case Reports in Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2017/9707031 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yanery’s Agosto-Vargas ◽

Madeleine Gutiérrez ◽

José Hernán Martínez ◽

Michelle Mangual-Garcia ◽

Coromoto Palermo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Total Thyroidectomy ◽

Malignant Transformation ◽

Thyroid Tissue ◽

The Body ◽

Ectopic Thyroid ◽

Lateral Neck ◽

Papillary Thyroid

Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes. However, cervical lymph node metastasis as a sole manifestation of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma is rarely observed. Ectopic thyroid is an uncommon condition defined as the presence of thyroid tissue at a site other than pretracheal area. Approximately 1–3% of all ectopic thyroid tissue is located in the lateral neck. This entity may represent the only functional thyroid tissue in the body. Malignant transformation of ectopic thyroid is uncommon; but even rarer is the development of papillary carcinoma on it. We present a case of a 33-year-old man with an incidental lateral neck mass diagnosed after a motor vehicle accident. Total thyroidectomy and lymph node resection were completed without evidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Malignant transformation of heterotopic thyroid tissue was the final diagnosis. The possibility of an ectopic thyroid cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pathological mass in the neck. The uniqueness of this case strives in the rarity that the thyroid gland was free of malignancy, despite ectopic tissue being positive for thyroid carcinoma. Management strategies, including performance of total thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and treatment with radioiodine, should be based on individualized risk assessment.

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