Year: 2026 | Month: September | Volume: 13 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 8-12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260902
Papillary Carcinoma of thyroid arising in a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
Pratyasha Banerjee1, Joy Poddar2, Avishek Roy3, Prodip Mondal4, Arnab Kumar Khan5, Anindita Pal6, Asim Kumar Manna7
1PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
2PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
3PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
4PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
5PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
6PGT, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
7Professor, Department of Pathology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Corresponding Author: Pratyasha Banerjee
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital midline neck anomaly. Malignant transformation is rare, occurring in approximately 1% of TGDCs, with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) being the predominant malignancy. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging because malignant TGDC may clinically and radiologically mimic a benign cyst.
Materials and methods: A rare case of PTC arising within a TGDC was evaluated using clinical, radiological, gross, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. The relevant literature was reviewed to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of this entity.
Case report: A 33-year-old woman presented with a painless, gradually enlarging midline suprahyoid neck swelling for four years. Ultrasonography demonstrated a well-defined cystic lesion containing solid nodules and multiple calcifications, with cervical lymphadenopathy. Contrast-enhanced CT suggested a TGDC with possible papillary carcinoma arising within it. Excision of the cyst was performed. Histopathological examination showed a cyst lined by flattened epithelium with focal thyroid tissue displaying papillary architecture, nuclear clearing, and psammoma bodies, diagnostic of PTC. Immunohistochemistry showed TTF-1 positivity, while BRAF V600 was negative. The findings supported PTC arising within a TGDC.
Conclusion: PTC arising in a TGDC is a rare entity that may remain clinically unsuspected. Careful histopathological examination is essential for diagnosis, while clinical, radiological and immunohistochemical correlation aids in establishing the diagnosis and guiding appropriate management.
Keywords: Thyroglossal duct cyst; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Ectopic thyroid tissue; Psammoma bodies; TTF-1; Neck swelling.
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