title: Papillary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the parapharyngeal space.
abstract: Nodal metastases from head and neck primary cancer presenting as a parapharyngeal space mass are rare. This paper reports two cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the parapharyngeal space. This finding can be related to Rouviere's description of a direct lymphatic pathway from the posterior surface of the superior thyroid lobe to the lateral retropharyngeal nodes. Metastatic thyroid cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a parapharyngeal space mass.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA