Concurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma and incidental cervical lymph node indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: clinicopathological features, outcomes, and potential relationships

The concurrent diagnosis of PTC and indolent CLN-B-NHL is extremely rare, with distinct clinicopathological and immunophenotypic features. A subset of cases exhibited coexisting PTC metastases and lymphoma within the same lymph node, though no direct molecular link (e.g., shared BCL2/IGH or CCND1/IGH alterations) was identified. Despite favorable treatment responses and 100% 5-year survival rate in this cohort, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions regarding long-term outcomes. Comprehensive pathological evaluation is critical for PTC with atypical lymph node involvement, and further studies are needed to validate the role of aggressive management in this population.