Columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland in a 22-year-old African female

Abstract

Columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare and aggressive thyroid malignancy with the clinical course predicated on the clinical stage, with the presence or absence of extrathyroid invasion. The tumors tend to occur in the elderly. We herein report a case of columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland with lymph node metastasis in a 22-year-old African female who presented with 2 years history of anterior neck swelling. The clinical examination, imaging, and cytological examination were suggestive of a benign neoplasm. An initial subtotal thyroidectomy was histologically diagnosed to be a columnar variant of papillary carcinoma. She subsequently had a completion thyroidectomy with resection of residual malignant thyroid tissue and lymph node, which showed metastasis. The patient is on follow-up.