title: A thyroid tumor extending to the parapharyngeal space.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma to the parapharyngeal space is rare and discussed in the English literature before. Encountering a parapharyngeal mass with cystic appearance on imaging, one should rule out thyroid malignancy as differential diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case presented here is a 22-year-old woman who was referred to our clinic with complaints of painless neck mass, dysphagia and hoarseness for two years. After radiologic and pathological examination, the mass thought to be relevant with the thyroid gland. Peroperatively, the tumor was found to originate from the superior pole of the right thyroid gland, with a narrow stalk, and extended following the neurovascular bundle to the lower part of the parapharyngeal space. The bulk was removed via transservical approach with total thyroidectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the parapharyngeal space is extremely rare. The management of this rare case was discussed with the review of literature.
authors.affiliation: Depatment of Otolaryngology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cetik
authors.affiliation: Depatment of Otolaryngology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uguz