A case of thyroglossal duct carcinoma

Abstract

Thyroglossal duct carcinoma is carcinoma of thyroglossal duct tissue, but it is not certain whether thyroglossal duct carcinoma originates from such tissue or from metastasis of thyroid carcinoma.
The present case was a 28-year-old woman who had a tumor in the submandibular region. Upon examination, thyroglossal duct carcinoma was suspected, so it was exenterated by Sistrunk's procedure. There was no tumor in the thyroid gland, so the thyroid gland was preserved. The carcinoma was thought to originate from thyroglossal duct tissue.
It has been reported that the thyroid gland should be removed in cases with thyroglossal duct carcinoma, because thyroglossal duct carcinoma sometimes occurs with thyroid carcinoma. However, if fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid tumor is negative, the thyroid gland can be preserved.
Neck CT, FNA and echo can increase the diagnostic rate for thyroglossal duct carcinoma.