Thyroid cancer in thyroglossal duct cysts requires a specific approach due to its unpredictable extension.

Context: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in thyroglossal duct cysts is uncommon. The requirement of total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection is still controversial. Setting: The study was performed in a referral thyroid cancer center at an academic hospital. Patients: We conducted a single center retrospective study of a consecutive series of 26 patients with DTC in thyroglossal duct cyst, all having undergone cyst resection and total thyroidectomy. Main Outcome Measures: Diagnostic modalities, surgical treatment, histopathological features, and clinical outcome were included in the study. Results: Thyroglossal duct cyst cancer histotype was papillary in 23 of 26 patients (88.5%) and follicular-Hurthle in 3 of 26 cases (11.5%). A concomitant papillary DTC in the thyroid gland was found in 16 of 26 cases (61.5%), and it was multifocal in 8 of 16 cases (50%). At presentation, the patients with cancer in both the thyroglossal duct cyst and the thyroid were older than the patients who only had cancer...