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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
[A diagnostic pitfall: papillary adenocarcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within a branchial cyst]
Véronique Hofman1, Sandra Lassalle, Catherine Butori
1Laboratoire de Pathologie Clinique et Expérimentale, Hôpital Pasteur, BP 69, 06002 Nice Cedex, France.
Abstract:
A case of thyroid papillary carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within a branchial cleft cyst is described. Complete dissection of the thyroid gland was necessary to rule out the differential diagnosis of primary thyroid carcinoma. The thyroglossal duct tract is an unusual localization for thyroid carcinomas in ectopic thyroid tissue. Thyroid carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within a branchial cyst is extremely rare. Complete thyroidectomy may be necessary to eliminate an occult thyroid carcinoma.
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