Carcinoma arising in thyroglossal duct remnants

Papillary adenocarcinoma arising in a thyroglossal cyst is described in a 38-year-old man to make a total of 83 cases in the literature. Most cases appear to be benign thyroglossal duct cysts. The malignant nature of the lesion was recognized only after the permanent pathology sections were reviewed. Paillary carcinoma was the most common type of carcinoma arising in thyroglossal duct remnants. Local resection by the Sistrunk method is the standard treatment when the malignancy has not extended beyond the confines of the cyst. The differentiation between a carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct remnant and a metastatic papillary carcinoma from an occult primary in the main thyroid gland is discussed.