Lateral Cervical Mass as a First Sign of Metastases of Occult Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma

Introduction The presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma as a lateral cystic neck mass is uncommon. Case report We report a case of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma, who presented with a lateral cystic neck mass without any goiter. Imaging like ultrasound of neck, computed tomography, failed to detect any lesion in the thyroid. The patient underwent preoperative fine needle aspiration of the lateral neck mass. The cytological examination of the aspiration showed suspicion of vascular lesion. The patient underwent neck exploration and excision of the lateral neck mass. The histopathological examination of the surgical specimen came as a metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral selective neck dissection. Discussion Our case highlights the presentation of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma as a lateral neck mass even in a patient without any thyroid lesion or enlargement. Papillary thyroid carcinoma, metastases, thyroidectomy, neck dissection