Parapharyngeal Nodal Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Catching Early

Metastasis to parapharyngeal space in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is rare and often missed in routine clinical and radiological investigations. Although contrast CT /MRI can be done to locate the parapharyngeal lesion, the diagnosis of metastasis mostly deepened upon aspiration cytology, which is a challenge in difficult anatomical locations. Here, we have emphasized the management dilemma of parapharyngeal metastasis in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

A 30-year-old female presented with multiple right-side neck swelling for two months. Ultrasonography of right thyroid showed TIRAD V and left thyroid showed TIRAD II. Aspiration cytology of the right thyroid showed Bethesda III and aspiration cytology revealed thyroid follicles. Due to the diagnostic ambiguity, contrast-enhanced CT scan was advised. It revealed a hypervascular lymph node in the parapharyngeal space besides multiple right cervical lymph nodes and later changed the treatment plan.

- Metastasis to parapharyngeal space in Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is rare and often missed on routine evaluation. Contrast-enhanced CT/MRI can be added as a primary investigation in challenging cases of suspicious malignancy of the thyroid.