title: Papillary carcinoma on a thyroglossal duct cyst: diagnostic problems and therapeutic dilemma. A case report.
abstract: Thyroglossal duct cysts are one of the most common congenital abnormalities of the cervical region. Complications of these swellings are rare, and among these, appearance of a carcinoma has also been noted. We present a case of papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst in 20-year-old woman with a swelling of about 4 cm, located at the middle region of the neck over the hyoid bone. Our patient was treated using a modified Sistrunk operation, in which thyroidectomy proved crucial for the correct diagnosis and continuation of appropriate treatment. Our case confirms the difficulty in distinguishing a primitive thyroglossal duct carcinoma from a synchronous metastatic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. This dilemma often remains unresolved.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Proia
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bianciardi Valassina
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zama
mesh_terms: D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000150:complications
keywords: Papillary carcinoma; Sistrunk operation; Thyroglossal duct cysts