Thyroid Inclusions in Neck Nodes: A Rare Benign Entity and a Mimicker of Nodal Metastasis of Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Thyroid inclusions or Ectopic thyroid tissue in cervical lymph nodes is a unique and intriguing phenomena that defies direct embryological explanation. In the lateral neck, thyroid ectopies account for just 1-3% of all cases. Despite its low frequency, this occurrence could make treatment decisions very difficult because it is rarely possible to discriminate between ectopic thyroid tissues and metastatic carcinomas in lymph nodes, especially in orthotopic thyroid tumors that are not clearly visible. We report a case of 64 years old male presenting with swelling in the anterior aspect of neck for 20 years. Patient underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral neck node dissection. Histology revealed papillary carcinoma thyroid, with bilateral neck nodes showing benign thyroid inclusions.

Keywords

• ectopic thyroid tissues
• thyroid inclusions