Cystic nodal metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma mimicking branchial cleft cyst: Two case reports

Abstract

Lateral cervical cystic masses of younger adult patients are most commonly branchial cleft cysts. Notwithstanding, lateral cervical cystic masses rarely could be the first sign of ocult thyroid carcinoma. In this paper we reported two cases, whom preoperative clinical diagnosis were branchial cleft cysts and than postoperative pathological diagnosis were metastatic cyst of thyroid carcinoma. Differential diagnosis of metastatic thyroid carcinoma must be carefully considered and much care must always be taken preoperativly in the evaluation of lateral cervical cystic masses.

Keywords

• papillary thyroid carcinoma
• branchial cleft cyst
• cystic nodal metastasis