[Papillary carcinoma in thyroglossal duct cyst].
OBJECTIVE
To report the management and outcome of three cases of papillary carcinoma (PC) in thyroglossal duct cysts (TGCs).


METHODS
We present case reports of one male and two female patients between the ages of 30 and 38 years who had DTR cyst. In addition, we discuss the theories about the pathogenesis of DTR carcinoma (de novo versus metastatic lesions).


RESULTS
In all three patients, we found a DTR that contained a vegetating mass. Subsequent pathologic examination revealed the presence of a PC. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy, and two of them concurrently had PC in the thyroid gland. Besides the PC in the TGC, the first patient had a "cold" scintigraphic thyroid nodule that was also a PC, whereas the second patient had a thyroid microcarcinoma that had not been detected before surgical intervention. The third patient did not have carcinoma of the thyroid. The patients received postoperative I131 and suppressive therapy with levothyroxine. During a follow-up period of 1 to 2.5 years (mean--1.75), we found no recurrence of the disease, and serum thyroglobulin remained undetectable in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Although use of total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy and suppressive treatment with levothyroxine is a matter of debate in patients with PC in TGCs, we conclude that this approach yields a favorable outcome in most cases, especially when the thyroid is also involved by the PC, and allows a better postoperative follow-up.
Dimov
R
R
Stefanov
Ch
Ch
D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013974:Thyroxine