title: Incidental nodal metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in neck dissection specimens from head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occult differentiated thyroid carcinomas are not uncommon. The initial presentation of a thyroid carcinoma is often detection of a metastatic cervical lymph node.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of the medical records of 304 patients who underwent neck dissection between 1996 and 2008 for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients (3.3 per cent) had nodal metastasis originating from papillary thyroid cancer. All of these patients underwent thyroidectomy and post-operative 131iodine radiometabolic therapy. No patient developed a thyroid tumour after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its metastatic spread, thyroid cancer does not affect the overall prognosis of patients who are already being treated for a more aggressive malignancy. However, in otherwise healthy patients, it is worth treating this second malignancy to avoid potential complications related to local disease or metastatic thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology,Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest,Ospedale delle Apuane,Massa,Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology,Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest,Ospedale delle Apuane,Massa,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology,Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest,Ospedale delle Apuane,Massa,Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muscatello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Head and Neck Neoplasms; Incidental Findings; Neck Dissection; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy