Thyroglossal Duct Cyst With Papillary Carcinoma in a 13-Year-Old Boy

Abstract

A case of thyroglossal duct cyst with papillary carcinoma in a child is reported. This is a rare finding in childhood, and a therapy has not been established as yet. A 13-year-old boy presented with an elastic lump attached to the hyoid bone in the submental region along the midline. An ultrasound scan showed a 30- × 17-mm cyst which included a high-echoic lesion between the hyoid bone and mentum. The patient underwent the Sistrunk procedure for excision of the thyroglossal duct cyst. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed that a papillary carcinoma arising within the thyroglossal duct cyst invade the muscle attached to the hyoid bone. A postoperative ultrasound scan showed no lesion of the thyroid and lymph node, and the postoperative course was uneventful. We followed up the observation because invasion of the papillary carcinoma was restricted in the muscle attached to the hyoid bone. The carcinoma was subsequently resected with the thyroglossal duct cyst. After 28 months of follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence. If ultrasound scan of the neck showed a hyperechoic lesion in the thyroglossal duct cyst, we would suspect a cancer that needed careful diagnosis and therapy.