Tall cell variant of papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal cyst: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.
BACKGROUND
Papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is the most frequent malignancy arising from this embryologic remnant of the thyroglossal duct. The preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of such neoplasms has rarely been cited. Approximately 170 TDC cases have been reported in the literature worldwide, diagnosed solely on histopathology.


METHODS
A 63-year-old woman presented with an anterior midline neck mass of years' duration. A hypodense cyst was located at the level of the hyoid bone. FNAC of the midline neck mass showed bloody, mucoid material and numerous atypical, elongated cells. The aspirated material was reported as "papillary carcinoma possibly arising from the thyroglossal duct," and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic investigation on resection material.


CONCLUSIONS
Tall cell variant is a rare variant of papillary carcinoma and has a poor prognosis. The differential diagnosis includes Hürthle cell lesions, oncocytic papillary thyroid carcinoma and Warthin-like papillary carcinoma.
Köybaşioğlu
Fulya
F
Department of Pathology and Cytology Unit, Social Security Foundation Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Simşek
Gülçin Güler
GG
Onal
Binnur Uzmez
BU
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome