Search

Background Parapharyngeal lymph node metastasis is very rare in patients with thyroid carcinoma. In this study, we elucidated on the clinical features, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and outcomes for patients with parapharyngeal lymph node metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Methods Patients with thyroid carcinoma who had been subjected to surgery through the transcervical approach at our institution between April 1999 and January 2019 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Results Parapharyngeal lymph node metastases were successfully resected through the transcervical approach in all the 97 patients. There were 32 treatment-naive patients, while 65 patients had a history of treatment before parapharyngeal lymph node metastases. All 97 cases of parapharyngeal lymph node metastases were detected by enhanced CT scans. Lateral neck lymph nodes metastases were confirmed in 96 patients. Unexpected postoperative neurological side effects were reported in 11 (11%) patients, including dysphagia in 5 (5%) patients, Horner’s syndrome in 2 (2%) patients, glossal deviation in 3 (3%) patients, and asymmetrical mouth in 1 (1%) patient. During the follow-up period, 6 of the 97 patients exhibited parapharyngeal lymph node recurrence (recurrence rate 6.2%). The incidence of distant metastases was 44.3% (43 out of 97). The 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival was 93.4% and 88.9%, respectively. Conclusion Parapharyngeal lymph node metastases should be considered in patients with widespread cervical lymph node metastases. Enhanced CT scan is one of the best methods for diagnosing such metastases. Surgical resection through the transcervical approach is an effective and safe option for patients with parapharyngeal lymph node metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Moreover, parapharyngeal lymph node metastasis is associated with distant metastases that may lead to poor prognosis.

Background Medullary thyroid cancer is a neuroendocrine malignancy that can occur sporadically or as the result of genomic rearranged during transfection mutations. Medullary thyroid cancer has a higher rate of metastasis than well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Lateral neck dissection is often performed, and its prophylactic use is controversial. Methods Single-center, retrospective review (2000–2017) of patients undergoing primary surgical treatment for medullary thyroid cancer who had negative lateral neck imaging preoperatively. Demographics, genetic associations, clinical, and imaging findings were analyzed. Locoregional recurrence, overall recurrence, and overall survival were examined. Results A total of 110 patients were identified, of which 18 underwent prophylactic lateral neck dissection and 92 did not. Age, sex distribution, preoperative calcitonin levels, and follow-up were similar among groups. Overall recurrence was 20% for no prophylactic lateral neck dissection and 39% for prophylactic lateral neck dissection (P = .46). Most recurrences were locoregional recurrence, 7.6% for no prophylactic lateral neck dissection versus 22% for prophylactic lateral neck dissection (P = .08), half of it being to the lateral neck in both groups. A total of 7 patients from the no prophylactic lateral neck dissection group required treatment for recurrences versus 4 patients in prophylactic lateral neck dissection group (P = .57). Overall survival at 5 years was similar, 43% the no prophylactic lateral neck dissection group and 31% for prophylactic lateral neck dissection group (P = .52). Conclusion Lateral neck dissection has no effect in decreasing locoregional or overall recurrences in medullary thyroid cancer and has no effect in overall survival when performed prophylactically at index surgical intervention.

Lateral neck ectopic thyroid tissue remains a rare entity that can be affected by any lesion involving the gland. The origin of lateral neck ectopic thyroid carcinomas still debated between a metastatic disease secondary to thyroid primary tumor and primary malignancy on the ectopic tissue. Anyway, it should indicate an exploration of the gland. We report the case of a 36 years old female with one year history of hyperthyroidism who was admitted for multinodular grade II goiter with a firm mass in the left level II of the lateral neck. The thyroid scintigraphy demonstrated multiple functioning nodules corresponding to toxic multinodular goiter; in addition to two cold hypofunctional nodules. The cervical ultrasound showed a voluminous multinodular goiter classified as EU TIRADS 5. The surgical procedure exposed a multinodular mass, lateral to the internal jugular vein, with the appearance and structure of the thyroid gland and no connection to it. The thyroid gland was exposed next through a collar incision. Each mass was dissected and removed individually. The histopathology examination of the thyroid gland found papillary carcinoma extracapsular extension. The pathology results of the other mass reported multiple colloid nodules with cystic component, papillary in appearance, with the same cancer proliferation, compatible with ectopic thyroid tissue with papillary carcinoma. No lymph node tissue was found. The patient was sent for complementary RAItherapy. We report a rare case of lateral neck ectopic thyroid papillary carcinoma that supplements and supports the lacking literature data concerning the management of this rare entity., Highlights • Lateral neck ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare entity that can possibly be affected by any lesion involving the gland. • Metastasis from thyroid primary carcinoma are difficult to distinguish from primary malignancy of the ectopic tissues. • The discovery of papillary carcinoma on ectopic thyroid tissue should indicate an exploration of the gland.