Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroglossal duct cysts are the most common congenital cervical anomaly. Malignant transformation is very uncommon: 1-1.5%. However, therapeutic strategy is still not codified. Our aim is to describe the therapeutic features of thyroid cancer arising from thyroglossal duct cyst.

Materials and Methods: We report 3 cases of thyroid cancer arising from thyroglossal duct cyst, treated in our department between 1996 and 2021.

Results: Two men and one woman were included. The mean age was 17 years. The mean size of the cervical swelling was 36 mm. The treatment consisted of excision of the thyroglossal duct according to the Sistrunk procedure in the 3 cases. The diagnosis of malignancy was made on intraoperative examination in one case and on postoperative histologic exam in 2 cases. The histologic type was papillary carcinoma in all cases. Total thyroidectomy and radioactive Iodine were performed in all cases and bilateral central neck dissection was associated in two cases. The evolution was favorable in all 3 cases after a mean follow-up of 30 months.

Conclusion: The therapeutic management of thyroid cancer arising from thyroglossal duct cyst remains a subject of debate regarding the need for thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. According to several authors, carcinoma can develop de novo within the thyroglossal duct, while others believe that the thyroglossal duct may be a natural route for the spread of carcinoma from the thyroid gland.