Carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct

Seven patients with carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst have received treatment over a 15 year period. Findings in all of these patients reflect the likelihood of carcinoma arising within thyroglossal duct tissue. In each patient there was sufficient histologic evidence of the presence of a thyroglossal duct cyst and carcinoma arising within an intimate admixture of normal thyroid tissue in the cyst wall. In the absence of a history of irradiation and with separation of the carcinoma from the pyramidal lobe of the thyroid, excision of the thyroglossal cyst alone by traditional means seems appropriate. Our experience as well as a review of reported cases to date indicate that distant metastases are extremely rare and the prognosis excellent.