Abstract

ARMAND UGON, Gustavo J.; CHAMBON, Cecilia  and  GONZALEZ, Daniel A.. Bilateral lymph node metastases from a thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma. Rev. argent. cir. [online]. 2022, vol.114, n.1, pp.58-62. ISSN 2250-639X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.25132/raac.v114.n1.1568.

We report the case of a 47-year-old female patient with a history of total thyroidectomy 20 years before due to multinodular goiter, with palpable jugular-carotid lymph nodes in both side of the neck. The fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed bilateral lymph node metastases of a papillary thyroid carcinoma. A thyroglossal duct cyst was found on ultrasound and computed tomography scan. Surgery: Sistrunk procedure plus selective central and bilateral selective neck dissection. Pathology report: papillary thyroid carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst with lymph node metastases. Thyroid gland tissue may be present in 5-7% of thyroglossal duct cysts; 1% may develop cancer and cervical lymph node metastases will occur in 7-15% We report a rare condition with unusual clinical presentation: bilateral enlargement of neck lymph nodes with a positive fine needle aspiration biopsy that guided the search for the primary tumor.

Keywords : Thyroglossal cyst; Thyroid cancer; Papillary carcinoma.