J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2003 Sep;25(5):466-470.

Cystic metastasis of the lateral neck mass: A case of occult thyroid adenocarcinoma

• Lee HS
• Ha JH
• Lee MH
• Yang SN

Abstract

Carcinoma of the thyroid gland usually presents as a midline expansive neck mass. The mass may be painful or evoke as its initial manifestation some type of aerodigestive dysfunction such as dysphagia, hoarsness, hemoptysis, or dyspnea. Less frequently, metastatic lateral neck mass is the first sign or symptom of thyroid cancer. The ultrasonic and Fine needle aspiration biopsy pattern of the lateral cystic neck mass are of importance in the differentiation of a cavitated lymph node from a brancheal cleft cyst. This report focuses on a case in which a solitary lateral neck mass was the sole initial presentation and clinically exhibited the usual appearance of brancheal cleft cyst. Accordingly, it is suggested that, in patients presenting with an asymptomatic solitary lateral cystic neck mass, the possibility of metastasis from an occult thyroid cancer should be considered and consent for definitive surgery should be obtained.

Keyword

Solitary lateral cystic neck mass; Occult thyroid cancer

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Biopsy
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Deglutition Disorders
Dyspnea
Hemoptysis
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neck*
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Periodontal Cyst
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms
Ultrasonics