title: Anaplastic carcinoma in submandibular region: A diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid carcinoma arising in an extrathyroid area is a rare entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of anaplastic carcinoma in the submandibular region occurring in a 70-year-old woman.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of the mass along with no evidence of primary tumor at the orthotopic thyroid gland posed a diagnostic dilemma: was this an ectopic thyroid carcinoma or rather a case of occult differentiated thyroid carcinoma metastasis that transformed to anaplastic carcinoma? Based on the histopathological findings we concluded that the tumor arised in ectopic thyroid tissue. Although the mass was completely resected, the patient died 10 months after diagnosis due to pulmonary metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conclusively, the possibility of ectopic thyroid tissue, with or without disease, should be considered in cases of a mass in the submandibular region.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, General Hospital of Volos "Achillopoulio", Volos, Greece. Electronic address: petkoltsid@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koltsidopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Volos "Achillopoulio", Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: Antzela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fericean
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zacharoulis
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skoulakis
keywords: Anaplastic carcinoma; Ectopic thyroid tissue; Submandibular region