Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of a foregut cyst in the thyroid: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Foregut cysts represent abnormal budding of the tracheobronchial anlage during embryogenesis. They occur most commonly in the mediastinum and pulmonary parenchyma and very seldom in the neck.


METHODS
A 42-year-old woman developed neck swelling and discomfort. An ultrasound scan showed a cystic nodule with a thick wall extending from the left lower pole of the thyroid gland. The material obtained from fine needle aspiration of the cyst demonstrated numerous detached ciliated tufts (DCTs) in a background of amorphous debris and degenerated cells. A diagnosis of ciliated cell remnants or DCTs consistent with a foregut cyst was made.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this entity is rare, awareness of its occurrence in the thyroid gland may prevent unnecessary surgery.
Department of Pathology and Radiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
Daniel C
DC
Dim
Marcella
M
Riveros-Angel
Jade
J
Wong-You-Cheong
Chen-Chih
CC
Sun
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional