Identification of papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal cyst by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Papillary carcinoma was diagnosed in a fine-needle aspirate from a cystic upper-cervical midline lesion attached to the hyoid bone. Histological examination of the excised specimen verified the diagnosis. Carcinoma arising in thyroglossal cysts, though rare, should be considered in patients presenting with an anterior midline mass in the upper neck; fine-needle aspiration may be useful in the preoperative diagnosis.