Papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the parapharyngeal space.
Thyroid papillary carcinoma presenting as a pharyngeal mass is a rare clinical occurrence and has only been reported sporadically. We present here two patients who had papillary carcinoma metastasis of the thyroid gland to the parapharyngeal space. Each patient had a different clinical progress. Upward lymphatic spread of the tumor to involve the parapharyngeal space via the lateral retropharyngeal nodes was indicated. This pattern of spread is in keeping with Rouviere's description of a direct lymphatic pathway from the thyroid gland to the retropharyngeal nodes and parapharyngeal space.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ergin sok. 27/11 Mebusevleri, 06580 Ankara, Turkey. eaygenc@turk.net
Erdinc
E
Aygenc
Mustafa
M
Kaymakci
Cihan
C
Karaca
Cafer
C
Ozdem
D000293:Adolescent; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*