Cystic neck metastases in a silent papillary thyroid carcinoma mimicking benign lesion: an unusual presentation

 

Nik Mohd Syukra NIK ABDUL GHANI 1, 2, Syarifah Najihah TUAN HABIB 1, Amran MOHAMAD 1, Irfan MOHAMAD 2

 

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia, 2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia

 

ABSTRACT

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy worldwide. It accounts for more than 80% of all thyroid malignancies. Women in the age group of 40 to 50 years old are most commonly affected. Patients with PTC usually present with goitre. However there are increasing reports of microcarcinoma of PTC. Fine needle aspiration cytology is considered the best investigation to diagnose a thyroid nodule pre-operatively. A non-goitre thyroid lesion is challenging to diagnose. We report an unusual presentation of PTC in a young female presenting with a lateral cystic neck mass. This reported incidence of this manifestation is less than 2%.

         

Keywords: papillary thyroid carcinoma, cystic neck mass, goitre, lymphangioma

 

Correspondence author: Nik Mohd Syukra bin NIK ABDUL GHANI, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Sultanah NurZahirah, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 Kuala Terengganu,

Terengganu, Malaysia. Tel: +6096212121, Fax: +609627139.

E mail: niksyukra@gmail.com

 

Brunei Int Med J. 2015; 11 (4): 214-218

 

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