Synchronous carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst and native thyroid gland

Abstract

The unobliterated portion of embryological thyroglossal duct may present as cystic swelling later in life and may contain functional thyroid follicles. This cyst requires excision along with the entire thyroglossal duct remnant and adjacent portion of hyoid bone. At times, the excised specimen could demonstrate a focus of carcinomatous change inside the cyst wall. Very rarely, this thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma could be associated with malignancy of native thyroid gland. This case report illustrates an interesting case of synchronous carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst and native thyroid gland. It also sheds light on the controversies related to the pathophysiology of such association and the dilemmas surrounding the management of thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma, with or without concurrent carcinoma of thyroid gland.

Disseminated nocardiosis presenting as a superinfected thyroglossal duct cyst in a patient with diabetes

“… 9 Furthermore, the aberrant thyroid follicles of TGDC might also undergo a carcinomatous transformation, sometimes even in coexistence with concurrent carcinoma of the native thyroid gland. 10 As the cervicotomy revealed purulent fluid, a superinfection of the TGDC seemed to be most likely, and therefore, a microbiological workup was prioritised over pathological examination.…”