J Korean Soc Radiol.  2010 Nov;63(5):413-417. 10.3348/jksr.2010.63.5.413.

Primary Follicular Carcinoma Arising in Ectopic Thyroid Tissue of the Lateral Neck: A Case Report

• Oh SW
• Park DW
• Kim SY
• Hahm CK
• Lee YJ
• Lee SR
• Pyo JY
• Oh YH
• Park YW

• KMID: 2097910
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2010.63.5.413

Abstract

Ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral neck is an uncommon congenital anomaly, and the occurrence of primary follicular carcinoma in this ectopic thyroid tissue is very rare. We report here on such a case of follicular carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue of the left lateral neck without any evidence of primary carcinoma in the original thyroid gland.

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular
Neck
Thyroid Dysgenesis
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

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  Fig. 1 CT findings on the lateral neck mass in a 39-year-old man. A. The axial pre-enhanced CT image shows a 4.2×3.0×5.4 cm-sized welldefined, isodense mass (arrow) in the left posterior submandibular space. B. The axial postcontrast CT image shows the strong and inhomogenous enhancement of the mass (arrow). The left submandibular gland is displaced anteriorly by the mass.

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  Fig. 2 MRI findings on the lateral neck mass. A, B. The mass (arrow) shows well-defined, homogenous isointensity on the T1-weighted MR image (A) and mild hyperintensity on the T2-weighted MR image (B). C, D. The axial and coronal fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR images show inhomogeneous enhancement of the mass (arrow). The external and internal carotid arteries are displaced laterally due to the mass (arrowhead in D).

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  Fig. 3 US findings of the lateral neck mass. A. The gray-scale US shows a circumscribed inhomogeneous mass (arrow) in the left posterior submandibular space. B. The color Doppler scan shows some internal vascularity of the mass (arrow). C. No abnormal lesion is found in the native original thyroid on US.

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  Fig. 4 Histopathologic findings on the excised mass. A. The photograph of the gross specimen (arrow) shows it is ovoid in shape with a smooth external surface and solid cut surface, and it measures 5.0×3.5 cm. B. Photomicrograph of the specimen shows that the tumor is composed of thyroid tissue (arrow) with small, abortive follicles. The tumor has invaded the vessels (arrowhead) in the outermost portion of the capsule.

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