Cervical Lymph Nodes: Harbinger of Benign Inclusions As Well As Metastatic Deposits of Thyroid Malignancy

Lymph nodes can be harbinger to benign epithelial inclusions as well as metastatic deposits. Cervical lymph nodes are home to benign epithelial inclusions from thyroid better known as lateral aberrant thyroid as well as inclusions from salivary gland due to the unique embryologic origins of nodes with these organs. We present a case of a young female suspected of thyroid malignancy who was intraoperative diagnosed by frozen sections with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid along with bilateral cervical nodes (Level I–V) positive for reactive lymphadenopathy with Level II node being positive to benign salivary gland inclusions and Level VI node being positive to metastatic deposits of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.