Abstract
Needle tract seeding (NTS) is a rare complication of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). An 87-year-old man presented with a subcutaneous cervical nodule. Eighteen years prior, he had undergone right thyroid lobectomy owing to tracheal compression. At that time, although preoperative FNAC of the thyroid nodule showed a 'normal or benign' finding, postoperative histology revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This time, ultrasonography and FNAC of the newly developed cervical subcutaneous nodule indicated PTC, suggesting NTS. Local tumor resection was performed. Using thinner needles and releasing suction before needle withdrawal can reduce, but cannot entirely prevent, NTS. Clinicians should be aware of NTS during the follow-up of patients with PTC.