Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Papillary Carcinoma of Thyroid with an Unusual Presentation

  • Clinical Report
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is well known for its low malignant potential and good prognosis. The outcome can be fatal in patients with low compliance and delayed treatment. Recent advances in ultrasonographic screening and US guided fine needle aspiration biopsy has facilitated early diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinomas. This epithelial thyroid tumour accounts for more than 80 % of all thyroid tumours. An occult primary carcinoma of thyroid presenting as lymphangioma has been reported rarely. We present a case of a 40-year-old female patient with huge cystic midline swelling on the right side of the neck mimicking lymphangioma on USG. MRI neck showed a cystic mass causing displacement of the trachea and arising from Rt lobe of thyroid gland. Hemithyroidectomy was carried out and histopathology revealed papillary carcinoma. In patients with neck swellings presenting as huge cystic mass the differential diagnosis of Intra cystic variant of papillary carcinoma thyroid and metastatic thyroid papillary carcinoma must always be considered prior to planning surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Scott A, Hundahl SA, Fleming ID, Fremgen AM, Menck HR (1998) A national cancer data base report on 53,856 cases of thyroid carcinoma treated in the U.S., 1985–1995. Cancer 83(12):2638–22948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Benito HI, Sánchez RA, Rodríguez PM et al (2001) Simple thyroid cyst. Rev Esp Med Nucl 20(1):32–35

    Google Scholar 

  3. Seven H, Gurkan A, Cinar U, Vural C, Turgut S (2004) Incidence of occult thyroid carcinoma metastases in lateral cervical cysts. Am J Otolaryngol 25(1):11–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Nakagawa T, Takashima T, Tomiyama K (2001) Differential diagnosis of a lateral cervical cyst and solitary cystic lymph node metastasis of occult thyroid papillary carcinoma. J Laryngol Otol 115(3):240–242

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Attie JN, Setzin M, Klein I (1993) Thyroid carcinoma presenting as an enlarged cervical lymph node. Am J Surg 166(4):428–430

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Loughran CF (1991) Case report: cystic lymph node metastasis from occult thyroid carcinoma: a sonographic mimic of a branchial cleft cyst. Clin Radiol 43(3):213–214

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Monchik JM, De Petris G, De Crea C (2001) Occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid presenting as a cervical cyst. Surgery 129(4):429–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Andersen PE, Kinsella J, Loree TR, Shaha AR, Shah JP (1995) Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid with extrathyroidal extension. Am J Surg 170(5):467–470

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Frates MC, Benson CB, Charboneau JW et al (2006) Management of thyroid nodules detected at US: society of radiologists in ultrasound consensus conference statement. Ultrasound Q 22(4):231–238

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jun P, Chow LC, Jeffrey RB (2005) The sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinomas: pictorial essay. Ultrasound Q 21(1):39–45

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chan BK, Desser TS, McDougall IR, Weigel RJ, Jeffrey RB Jr (2003) Common and uncommon sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma. J Ultrasound Med 22(10):1083–1090

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hoang JK, Lee WK, Lee M, Johnson D, Farrell S (2007) US features of thyroid malignancy: pearls and pitfalls. Radiographics 27(3):847–860

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Al-Brahim N, Asa SL (2006) Papillary thyroid carcinoma: an overview. Arch Pathol Lab Med 130(7):1057–1062

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tae HJ, Lim DJ, Baek KH et al (2007) Diagnostic value of ultrasonography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions in the management of thyroid nodules. Thyroid 17(5):461–466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Beahrs O, Kiernan P, Hubert JJ (1981) Cancer of the thyroid gland. In: Suen J, Myers E (eds) Cancer of the head and neck. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 599–632

    Google Scholar 

  16. Chi HS, Wang LF, Chiang FY, Kuo WR, Lee KW (2007) Branchial cleft cyst as the initial impression of a metastatic thyroid papillary carcinoma: two case reports. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 23(12):634–638

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Muller N, Cooperberg PL, Suen KCH, Thorson SC (1985) Needle aspiration biopsy in cystic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Am J Roentgenol 144(2):251–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Cooper DS, Doherty GM, Haugen BR et al (2009) Revised American thyroid association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 19(11):1167–1214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Financial support

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of ENT, SAIMS Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Brajendra Baser, Vishal R. Munjal & Manya Thakur Roy

Authors
  1. Brajendra Baser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vishal R. Munjal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manya Thakur Roy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manya Thakur Roy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Baser, B., Munjal, V.R. & Roy, M.T. Papillary Carcinoma of Thyroid with an Unusual Presentation. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 67 (Suppl 1), 145–148 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-014-0746-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-014-0746-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation