Thyroglossal duct cysts are usually located at the midline of the neck. While the coexistence of a carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is extremely rare, papillary carcinoma represents almost 80% of the cases. Its treatment is usually decided based on postoperative histopathological examinations. Although the Sistrunk procedure is often seen as adequate, the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts remains controversial. In the present study, the Sistrunk procedure was used to excise a thyroglossal duct cyst in a 24-year-old female. Papillary carcinoma was confirmed with the histopathological examination following the surgery. We did not perform thyroidectomy, neck dissection or radioactive iodine treatment as carcinoma was limited to the cyst, no pathological findings were detected in the thyroid gland, and no palpable lymph node was found in the neck. No new clinicopathological problems arose in the two-year follow-up period.

Thyroglossal duct cysts are usually located at the midline of the neck. While the coexistence of a carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is extremely rare, papillary carcinoma represents almost 80% of the cases. Its treatment is usually decided based on postoperative histopathological examinations. Although the Sistrunk procedure is often seen as adequate, the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts remains controversial. In the present study, the Sistrunk procedure was used to excise a thyroglossal duct cyst in a 24-year-old female. Papillary carcinoma was confirmed with the histopathological examination following the surgery. We did not perform thyroidectomy, neck dissection or radioactive iodine treatment as carcinoma was limited to the cyst, no pathological findings were detected in the thyroid gland, and no palpable lymph node was found in the neck. No new clinicopathological problems arose in the two-year follow-up period.