A Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Carcinoma Mimics Ranula: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background A thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is a common congenital anomaly. However, the development of carcinoma within it is rare. Submental presentation and the concomitant TGDC carcinoma with thyroid gland carcinoma are indeed very rare. Case Presentation In this case report, a TGDC carcinoma with concomitant thyroid carcinoma in a fifty year-old Iraqi middle aged female presented with a submental mass. It was diagnosed initially as a sublingual ranula. Clinical examination showed a non-mobile tender hard mass at the submental region with no obvious thyroid gland enlargement. An imaging study showed a normal thyroid size and texture with a complex cystic-solid lesion involving the sublingual space. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed atypical follicular epithelial inflammatory cells within the thyroid nodule. Conclusion The neck mass smear suggested papillary thyroid carcinoma, which was confirmed on surgery by Sistrunk procedure and postoperative histopathology. Subsequently, the patient was kept on radioactive iodine therapy. Papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in TGDC may present as a large complex midline mass at the upper neck or floor of the mouth and should be kept in mind even if there is no history of thyroglossal duct cyst or a history of thyroid nodule.