[Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis. Interest of tetrofosmin scintigraphy...

Thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis is common and it is associated in most cases with the papillary variety. Diagnosis of lymph node metastases from a thyroid microcarcinoma is not always easy, because a thyroid nodule may not be palpable.

In this work, the authors report two cases of papillary microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph adenopathy.

The diagnosis was made preoperatively by Tetrofosmin scintigraphy and thyroglobulin measurement in the lymph node.

Tetrofosmine scintigraphy is a performing exam but with a poor specificity. Lymph node thyroglobulin is a simple exam which is very sensitive and specific.