Incidental thyroid papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst - management dilemmas

Mehala Tharmabala; Rani Kanthan

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.10.003

Incidental thyroid papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst - management dilemmas

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2013;4(1):58-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Oct 11.

Authors

Mehala Tharmabala¹, Rani Kanthan

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Electronic address: mehtharmabala@gmail.com.

Abstract

Introduction: Benign thyroglossal duct tract remnants typically thyroglossal duct cysts, (TDCs) are one of the commonest congenital childhood midline neck masses. Clinical presentation of persistent TDCs in adults is uncommon and the occurrence of incidental primary thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) in these cysts is rare.

Presentation of case: We report the case of a 32-year-old female with an asymptomatic midline neck mass compatible with a TDC that was excised by Sistrunk's procedure. Histopathological examination revealed an incidental primary intraluminal TPC arising from the wall of the TDC.

Discussion: Management dilemmas regarding the roles for total thyroidectomy, regional lymph node dissection, radioactive iodine, and suppressive thyroxine therapy are reviewed in the context of relevant evidence based literature.

Conclusion: The occurrence of incidental TPC in a TDC is rare. Though Sistrunk's procedure is adequate treatment for TDC, based on low, moderate, and high risk stratification, recommendations for further management of incidental TPC in TDC is discussed.