Papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the parapharyngeal space

Management of Retropharyngeal Node Metastases from Thyroid Carcinoma

“…A majority of patients were older than 45 years (38/51 patients, 75 %). Only 2 cases were reported in children [4, 5]. A twofold female predominance was noted: 52 females versus 26 males in the 23 series in which gender was reported.…”

Transoral resection of thyroid cancer metastasis to lateral retropharyngeal nodes

“…Our findings, in 3 patients presenting over a period of 30 months, suggest a higher incidence of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma than that implied by the literature. Indeed, the occurrence of thyroid cancer metastasis to retropharyngeal lymph nodes has been described mainly in sporadic case reports 7–13. Moreover, each of these reports described parapharyngeal masses that were found to represent thyroid cancer metastasis.…”

“…However, lymph node metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma occasionally occurs outside of those basins at the greatest risk of spread. In patients with significant lateral neck disease or a history of neck dissection, metastasis may occur in the parapharyngeal7–13 and retropharyngeal lymph nodes 14…”

Parapharyngeal metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case diagnosed by thyroglobulin measurement in peroral fine-needle aspiration of a cystic metastatic lymph node

“…Of parapharyngeal space metastases from PTC, cystic appearance has been disclosed in seven, including this case, in the literature up until now (Table I). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Fine-needle aspiration biopsy prior to surgery is simple and speedy, but cystic metastases in lymph nodes are one of the most common causes of false negatives. 12,13 The differential diagnosis of a cystic lesion arising in the parapharyngeal space should include cystic schwannoma, neurofibroma, necrotic nodal metastases or lymphomas, and cystic hygroma.…”

“…Parapharyngeal metastases arising from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are rare and correct diagnosis before surgery is sometimes difficult. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Thyroglobulin measurement in the needle wash-out of fine-needle aspiration biopsy was reported to be a useful technique for diagnosing cervical lymph-node metastasis in patients with thyroid carcinoma. 11 We report the case of a 58-year-old woman who had cystic lymph-node metastasis of the parapharyngeal space from PTC and was diagnosed pre-operatively using this method.…”