Int J Thyroidol.  2021 May;14(1):37-41. 10.11106/ijt.2021.14.1.37.

Branchial Cleft Cyst Mimicking Malignant Thyroid Neoplasm Concurrent with Medullary and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: a Case Report

• Yi W
• Kim BH
• Lee BJ
• Kim K

• KMID: 2516163
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11106/ijt.2021.14.1.37

Abstract

Branchial cleft cysts are the most common lateral neck mass, and usually have well-delineated cystic structures under ultrasonography. Ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology is very helpful during preoperative diagnosis. However, these cysts may occur in unusual locations and have a sonographic morphology similar to malignant thyroid neoplasm. A 61-year-old woman presented with thyroid nodules, and ultrasonography revealed a 0.8-cm, hypoechoic, solid nodule with microcalcifications in the right lobe of thyroid in the lower portion. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed the 0.8-cm hypoechoic nodule to be a branchial cleft cyst. In addition, concurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) were found. Herein, we present a rare case of branchial cleft cyst mimicking malignant thyroid neoplasm concurrent with medullary and PTC.

Keyword

Branchial cleft cyst; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Ultrasonography

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Initial ultrasono-graphy (US) of branchial cleft cyst, (B) initial US of medullary thyroid carcinoma. (C) Follow-up US of bran-chial cleft cyst. (D) Follow-up US of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

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  Fig. 2 The cut surface of the right thyroid gland. (A) Medullary thyroid carcinoma, (B) papillary thyroid car-cinoma, (C) branchial cleft cyst.

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  Fig. 3 Postoperative histo-pathological examination of branchial cleft cyst, medul-lary thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma. (A) Branchial cleft cyst, He-matoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, magnification ×200, (B) medullary thyroid carci-noma, H&E staining, magni-fication ×200, (C) positive calcitonin immunostaining in medullary thyroid carcinoma, (D) papillary thyroid carci-noma, H&E staining, magni-fication ×200.

Reference

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