Thyroglossal duct carcinoma

Abstract

Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. In the vast majority of cases, it presents initially as a nodule within the thyroid gland, with or without metastatic disease (local or distal). Rarely, extrathyroidal or ectopic origin of this malignancy has been documented, typically in embryologic rests of thyroid cells. One common site is the thyroglossal duct. Although a cystic nodule within a remnant of this duct is the most typical neck mass detected during childhood, such nodules are almost always histologically benign. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.