CARCINOMA ARISING IN THYROGLOSSAL REMNANTS

Three patients with a papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal du ct cyst are presented and the literature is reviewed. This rare malign ancy is seen mostly in women between the ages of 20 and 50 years. The distribution of carcinoma subtypes differs from that of thyroid carcin omas and thyroglossal duct carcinoma is recognized as a primary tumour . The diagnosis is seldom made pre-operatively though especially in ol der patients with midline swellings in the neck the diagnosis should b e considered. Sistrunk's operation is the treatment of choice. In this operation the cyst, the middle part of the hyoid bone and the thyrogl ossal duct are removed in continuity.