Papillary carcinoma arising on cervico-mediastinal thyroglossal ductal cyst resected via transcervical and partial upper sternotomy incision.

Thyroglossal cyst is the most common congenital cervical pathology of childhood. Malign transformation in thyroglossal cyst is very rare and seen generally in adults. Here, we report on a 40-year-old female patient who presented with progressive dyspnea and enlarging cervical masses. Radiological examination revealed multiple cystic lesions in cervical and mediastinal region. The cysts were resected surgically via transcervical and partial upper sternotomy incision. Pathological examination revealed malignant change in the cervico-mediastinal thyroglossal cysts. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.