Senthilnathan Meenakshisundaram, Ganapathy Shivashekar, Ramamurthy Bhuvanamha Devi
Department of Pathology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, IND.
Cureus. 2022 Dec 28;14(12):e33069. doi: 10.7759/cureus.33069. eCollection 2022 Dec.
Branchial cleft cyst is an embryogenic anomaly of branchial apparatus usually occurring in the lateral aspect of the neck. Very few cases of intrathyroidal cystic lesion of branchial cleft have been reported in English literature so far. The patient was a 42-year-old female who presented to the Otorhinolaryngology department with anterior neck mass. The serology revealed elevated antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase. Fine needle aspiration done in an outside hospital was reported as an epidermal inclusion cyst. Radiology examination of the neck was suggestive of infected fourth branchial cleft cyst. Left hemithyroidectomy was done. On histopathology examination, branchial cleft cyst within the thyroid parenchyma exhibiting features of autoimmune thyroiditis and secondary degenerative changes was noted. This rare case is reported to emphasize multiple-site fine needle aspiration in heterogenous thyroid lesions along with radiological correlation for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
鳃裂囊肿是一种鳃器的胚胎发育异常，通常发生在颈部侧面。迄今为止，英文文献中报道的甲状腺内鳃裂囊性病变的病例非常少。该患者为一名42岁女性，因前颈部肿物就诊于耳鼻喉科。血清学检查显示甲状腺球蛋白和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体升高。在外院进行的细针穿刺抽吸检查报告为表皮样囊肿。颈部放射学检查提示为感染性第四鳃裂囊肿。遂行左侧甲状腺次全切除术。组织病理学检查发现，甲状腺实质内的鳃裂囊肿表现出自身免疫性甲状腺炎的特征及继发性退行性改变。报道这一罕见病例是为了强调对于异质性甲状腺病变需进行多部位细针穿刺抽吸检查，并结合放射学检查以做出正确诊断和进行恰当治疗。
