A 71-year-old female presented with a midline neck mass. The clinical impression was that of a thyroglossal cyst but preoperative assessment suggested a solid lesion, possibly malignant. The mass was removed surgically using the Sistrunk technique and shown pathologically to be a mixed papillary-follicular carcinoma of the thyroid with no cystic elements. Clinically and radiologically the thyroid was normal and thyroidectomy was not performed. This management is discussed along with a brief review of the relevant literature on the pathology and treatment of similar lesions.

Adult rhabdomyoma is a benign neoplasm of skeletal muscle origin, which mainly occurs in the head and neck region. Because of its rarity the diagnosis may be missed, especially if cross-striations cannot be demonstrated by light microscopy. By applying supplementary diagnostic evaluation with immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, the diagnosis is established. Positive staining with desmin unequivocally demonstrates that the tumour cells are derived from muscle tissue. The presence of myofibrils, Z-bands and numerous mitochondria by ultrastructural examination are characteristic features of this tumour.

The rare case of a patient who developed a squamous carcinoma within a Warthin's tumour of the parotid gland (adenolymphoma or papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) is described. We have found ten previously reported cases, only four of which have shown squamous carcinomatos change.

Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis, or scrofula, is a disease dating back thousands of years.

In spite of modern treatment and public health measures, scrofula persists but is infrequently seen.

Five patients with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis as a sole presentation have been seen in our department in the last 10 years.

The clinical presentation and current methods of diagnosis and treatment are described.

A short historical review is given.