Neoplastic Degeneration of a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Case Report

Vincenzo Saita, Domenico Michele Modica, Nicolò Marino, Carmela Emmanuele andEugenia Allegra

Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Phonosurgery Unit, Catania, Italy
Otorhinolaryngology Section, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Italy
Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Pathology Unit, Catania, Italy
Otolaryngology, Department of Health Science, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy

^*Correspondance to: Eugenia Allegra 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1205

Abstract

The thyroglossal duct cyst is a congenital lesion of the neck, resulting from the incomplete obliteration of the thyroglossal canal; in the embryonic period, its purpose is to facilitate the migration to the final seat of the thyroid draft. Rarely, the retention of this cyst can cause a neoplastic degeneration. A 33-year-old female presented to our outpatient clinic complaining of the appearance, about a year ago, a swelling of the neck in the middle of the suprahyoid region. Clinical and medical history characteristics were compatible with a thyroglossal duct cyst. Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed the presence of a thyroglossal duct cyst. The patient was subjected to surgery according Sistrunk procedure, and the diagnosis was papillary carcinoma based on histopathologic examination. After two years of follow-up, the patient is currently diseasefree. This confirms the validity of the Sistrunk surgery for non-extended and well-differentiated tumors, with no associated thyroid lesions.

Keywords

Thyroglossal duct cyst; Papillary carcinoma; Sistunk

Cite the article

Saita V, Modica D, Emmanuele C, Allegra E. Neoplastic Degeneration of a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Case Report. Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1205.