Aberrant Intrathyroid Tissue: a Report of Intrathyroid Lymph Node Metastasis and a Review of Literature

Abstract

Aberrant histological elements have been infrequently reported to exist within the intact thyroid gland. In addition to distant metastases to the thyroid, a number of ectopic tissue rests and unusual cysts have been described within the thyroid gland. In this article, we report the presence of a true intrathyroid lymph node and describe the first reported case of intrathyroid lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer. Other reported aberrant intrathyroid tissues, possible pathophysiology, diagnostic features and surgical implications are also discussed.