Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma Presenting as Posterior Pharyngeal Mass :A Case Report

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2010;26(2):221-224.
Published online November 30, 2010.

Jae Ho Kang;Si Chang Yang;Choon Dong Kim;Seung Woo Kim

후인두 종물로 나타난 갑상선 유두상 암종 1예

강재호;양시창;김춘동;김승우

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently invades the lymph node, trachea, esophagus and perithyroid tissue. However, direct extension to posterior pharyngeal area is known to be rare. A 64-year-old male was referred to our clinic presenting as posterior pharyngeal mass during gastrofiberscopy. The neck CT scan showed soft tissue mass in retropharynx and lymph node in right level III with calcifications. We performed the total thy-roidectomy with selective(level II, III, IV) and anterior compartment neck dissection. In operative findings, the right thyroid mass were connected to the retropharynx through the posterior portion of inferior constrictor muscle. Histopathologic findings revealed the papillary thyroid carcinoma extended to retropharynx. We report a unique case with a literature review.

Key Words: Thyroid neoplasms, Papillary carcinoma, Posterior pharyngeal neoplasm