Two cases of papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst

Abstract EN

Introduction : Thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common congenital neck mass.

This mass is known to be benign and only few cases (1 %) may develop papillary carcinoma.

Aim : To present 2 cases of papillary carcinoma originated from the thyroglossal duct cyst and review the literature regarding the optimal therapeutic approach.

Method : Case report.

Results : Papillary carcinoma develops in a thyroglossal duct cyst in 1 % of cases.

In this article we presented 2 cases of papillary carcinoma in thyroglossal duct cyst with normal thyroid gland treated with two different approaches.

One patient in 1997 was treated with a Sistrunk approach and a total thyroidectomy, and the other in 2012 was treated with a only a Sistrunk approach.

Conclusion : Through time there were many controversies concerning the management of the papillary carcinoma in the thyroglossal duct cyst.

In our article and after a review of the literature we concluded that in patients with normal thyroid gland and no lymphadenopathy (N0) the best treatment was limited to the complete excision of the thyroglossal duct cyst using a Sistrunk approach.

ª 2012 Egyptian Society of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences.