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Heterotopic parathyroid inclusion in a cervical lymph node

Emanuela Veras1, Erich M Sturgis, Mario A Luna

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Texas, USA.

Head & Neck
|July 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Pathologists discovered benign parathyroid tissue within a cervical lymph node during neck dissection for laryngeal cancer. This rare finding highlights the importance of considering heterotopic parathyroid inclusions in diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Pathology
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Neck dissection specimens can reveal unexpected findings, including benign epithelial inclusions.
  • Differential diagnoses for intranodal epithelial inclusions are broad.

Observation:

  • A 59-year-old man underwent laryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
  • A significantly enlarged lymph node (2.5 x 2.2 x 0.8 cm) was identified at right level IV.

Findings:

  • Histologic examination confirmed benign parathyroid inclusions within the enlarged lymph node.
  • Immunohistochemistry revealed parathyroid hormone expression in the heterotopic cells.
  • This represents a unique case of parathyroid tissue found within a cervical lymph node.

Implications:

  • Heterotopic parathyroid inclusions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node pathology.
  • Accurate identification is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate patient management.
Abstract

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