[Cystic cervical lymph node swelling - Thyroglobin-FNA allows to diagnose metastasizing papillary thyroid carcinoma].

HISTORY  A patient presented with a cystic mass in the lateral triangle of the neck. FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS  After ultrasound and MRI, a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed. It did not reveal malignant disease. By virtue of repeated FNAC and detection of thyroglobin in the cyst fluid, the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma was firmly established. THERAPY AND COURSE  The necessary surgery could be performed in a single step intervention. Three weeks after surgery, radioiodine therapy with 3.7 GBq I131 was performed. CONCLUSION  Swelling of the cervical lymph nodes may have many causes, and rarely may be the metastasis of a thyroid carcinoma. We present a simple way to detect lymphatic metastatic thyroid carcinoma with the help of a case report.