Background: Thyroglossal duct cysts are the most common congenital neck masses arising from the expansion of the epithelial tract remnants occurring during embryogenic thyroid migration. About 7% of the population has thyroglossal duct remnants. Clinical general presentation is frequent in children, but adults can also present with thyroglossal duct cysts. Thyroglossal duct cysts may rarely develop carcinomas (1-1.6 %) but tend to occur more in adults than
children.Case Report: We retrospectively analyzed 76 thyroglossal duct cyst cases operated at our institution between 1985 and 2002.Conclusions: Although papillary thyroid carcinoma development from thyroglossal cyst is very rare, it should be born in my mind and the pathologist should examine the ductal wall elaborately.

Keywords: Thyroglossal duct, cyst, papillary carcinoma