title: Metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting as a typical branchial cyst.
abstract: Two cases of papillary thryoid carcinoma presenting as a cystic lateral neck mass are reported. This tumour characteristically presents in patients under 40-years-old and in the presence of an occult primary tumour may mimic a branchial cyst. In such cases simple aspiration of the cyst will produce a chocolate-brown serous fluid which excludes the diagnosis of a branchial cyst and is characteristic of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cytological examination of the fluid has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy and should avoid delay in diagnosis and unnecessary surgical exploration prior to definitive treatment.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Northampton General Hospital, UK.
authors: I D
authors: ID
authors: McDermott
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Watters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography