Thyroglossal duct carcinoma: presentation and management, including eight cases reports.

Although thyroglossal duct cysts represent a common developmental abnormality of the thyroid gland, malignant transformation is rare and occurs in only 1%. This article describes eight patients who were referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital between 1956 and 1991. There were five males and three females, aged from 14 to 71 years (mean 44.6). There were seven papillary carcinomas and one follicular carcinoma. Patients were followed for between 6 and 41 years (mean 16.5). Management comprised: surgical excision only in four patients; surgical excision plus thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine in three; and radioiodine following only biopsy in one patient with lingual thyroid carcinoma. Multifocal carcinoma of the thyroid was found in one patient and a single focus of carcinoma in the thyroid gland in another; lymph node metastases were found in only one patient. There was no history of previous exposure to ionizing radiation.