Papillary carcinoma in thyroglossal duct remnants: presentation of four cases and decision procedure for prophylactic thyroid gland dissection.
Papillary carcinoma in thyroglossal duct remnants is a rare and usually unexpected finding. It is controversial whether or not prophylactic thyroid gland dissection is necessary in such circumstances. We present our experience of four cases. Based on this, a consideration of published risk factors, and evaluation of the likelihood of a primary versus metastatic origin of the malignancy, we present a therapeutic decision procedure. When the thyroid is normal, the patient presents low-risk factors for thyroid cancer, and there is evidence that the malignancy is primary, removal of all thyroglossal duct remnants by the Sistrunk procedure is sufficient.
Tradati
N
N
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, 20141 Milano, Italy. nicoletta.tradati@ieo.it
DePaoli
F
F
Benazzo
M
M
Andrle
J
J
Calabrese
L
L
Giugliano
G
G
Gibelli
B
B
Zurrida
S
S
Chiesa
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*