[Thyroid adenoma in the piriform fossa: a case report and literature review]

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of case of thyroid adenoma in the piriform fossa, and review the literatures of the congentital thyroid gland abnormality. Methods: A 44-year-old male had foreign body feeling in his pharynx for 3 years. A mass in his left piriform fossa was detected by the clinical and imaging examination. Biopsy report that the mass was thyroid papillary carcinoma. The resection of tumor with partial back thyroid cartilage through lateral neck and pharyngeal approach was performed. Results: The surgical wound healed in first-stage and no any surgical complication occurred. With postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical examination, the mass was finally diagnosed as thyroid gland adenoma. Staining for cytokerantin19 was negative. Conclusion: The symptomatic and neoplastic abnormal thyroid gland should be excised, but asymptomtic, non-neoplastic and functional abnormal thyroid gland should be retained with regular follow up.