Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Metastasis of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Thyroid papillary carcinoma shows 40% of the lymph node metastasis rate, but metastasis to retropharyngeal lymph node is known to be rare. Patients underwent operation via transcervical approach due to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma mimicking paraganglioma. Even though retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is rare, it could go unnoticed with only history taking and physical examination of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients, especially since cervical ultrasonography is not a sufficient modality for the evaluation of retropharyngeal lymph node. Imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan is required to evaluate retropharyngeal lymph nodes.