A CASE OF OCCULT PAPILLARY CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID PRESENTING AS CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY

A small percentage of papillary thyroid cancers present with enlarged lymph nodes in the jugular chain with no palpable abnormality of the thyroid. The primary tumour may be no more than a few milli-meters in size and is often termed occult. We report a case of 36-year-old female who presented with swelling in the right side of neck for two years duration. Clinically thyroid appeared normal. Ultrasound and CECT showed multiple level 2,34 lymph nodes on right side of the neck with normal thyroid. FNAC from the node showed papillary carcinoma of thyroid. Total thyroidectomy with Right modified radical neck dissection was done. The HPE was reported as papillary carcinoma of thyroid with metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. The case is presented for its rarity and the importance of suspicion of occult thyroid malignancy in the setting of cervical lymphadenopathy.