Parapharyngeal metastasis from papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid: report of a case diagnosed by peroral fine needle aspiration.

A parapharyngeal metastasis from primary thyroid carcinoma is rare and a search of relevant publications disclosed only seven previous reported cases. We describe a 46-year-old man who presented with a left parapharyngeal mass that was subsequently diagnosed by peroral fine-needle aspiration as a metastasis originating from a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Metastatic thyroid cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a parapharyngeal mass. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is a simple, speedy, and cost-effective method of diagnosis of parapharyngeal masses. Copyright 2002 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.