Lipomas of anterior neck simulating thyroid nodules: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration

The anterior neck is an unusual location for lipomas. Cervical lipomas can be mistaken for non-functioning thyroid nodules. We report eight cases from our files diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA). Our purpose is to call attention to this simple technique in establishing an accurate diagnosis and how it can contribute to better patient management by avoiding unnecessary thyroid suppressive therapy and/or surgery. We advocate using FNA as the initial diagnostic test on palpable masses in the neck. The differential diagnosis must include thyroid lipomatosis, thyrolipoma or adenolipoma, amyloid goiter with fatty infiltration, and fat-containing thyroidal neoplasms (papillary carcinoma and follicular neoplasms).