Cervical lymphadenopathy: metastasis of papillary carcinoma or ectopic thyroid tissue?

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 May 8:2012:bcr0120125603. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5603.

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently metastasises to the regional neck lymph nodes. However, cervical lymph node metastases as sole manifestation of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma are observed rarely. The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man presenting for slowly enlarging neck region and shortness of breath, with an insidious history for 15 years. Thyroid imaging showed a goitre predominantly of the right lobe, but histopathological finding revealed a multi-centric thyroid papillary carcinoma with lymph node metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / surgery
  • Choristoma / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology*
  • Lymphatic Diseases / surgery
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck / pathology*
  • Thyroid Gland
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy