title: Coexistence of a carotid body tumor and thyroglossal duct carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis.
abstract: Thyroglossal duct carcinoma is uncommon, occurring in approximately 1% of all thyroglossal duct remnants. This rare neoplasm is characterized by relatively nonaggressive behavior with infrequent lymph nodal spread. Another rare neoplasm of the head and neck region is a carotid body tumor. A 78-year-old woman with a 3-year history of midline and bilateral neck masses was referred to us. Fine needle aspiration biopsies and a computed tomography scan suggested the diagnosis of thyroglossal duct carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis. Interestingly, the left-side neck mass was found to be splaying the carotid bifurcation, on computed tomography imaging. Carotid arteriography demonstrated a highly vascular mass in the bifurcation of the carotid artery that was compressing the internal and external carotid arteries. To our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a thyroglossal duct carcinoma with neck metastasis accompanied by a carotid body tumor. In addition, the carotid body tumor in this case mimicked neck metastasis from the thyroglossal duct carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Seok
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Koh
keywords: Carcinoma; Carotid body tumor; Lymphatic metastasis; Thyroglossal duct cyst