Cervical lymph nodes metastasis revealing occult papillary thyroid carcinoma

Rachida Bouattay; Linda Misbah; May Ferjani; Khaled Harrathi; Jamel Koubaa

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP643

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP643 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP643

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Endocrine Related Cancer (100 abstracts)

Cervical lymph nodes metastasis revealing occult papillary thyroid carcinoma

Rachida Bouattay ¹ , Linda Misbah ¹ , May Ferjani ¹ , Khaled Harrathi ¹ & Jamel Koubaa ¹

Author affiliations

¹ENT and Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia

JOINT2019

Introduction: Cervical lymph node metastasis revealing occult papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is uncommon. This clinical situation raises double problem: problem of diagnosis, in the presence of a chronic lymphadenopathy without known primitive and on the other hand its impact on the prognosis of these micro carcinomas.

Patients and Methods: A Descriptive retrospective study including 6 cases of cervical node metastasis revealing PTMCs.

Results: The average age in our series was 60 years (40-84 years). The sex ratio was 0,5. All our patients presented with latero-cervical tumefaction. The topography was the sector II in 1 case, sector III in 3 cases and sector IV in two cases. The thyroid was not palpable in all patients. The fine needle biopsy performed in five cases, suggests the diagnosis of a lymph node metastasis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Total thyroidectomy was performed with central and lateral neck dissection in all cases. All patients were referred for radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation therapy. The mean follow-up was 5 years.

Conclusion: A laterocervical mass may be the only presentation of a clinically occult thyroid microcarcinoma. The treatment is that of any thyroid carcinoma and provides a good oncological result despite the possibility of locoregional recurrence.