Fine-needle aspiration of a paraesophageal diverticulum masquerading as a thyroid nodule

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a widely utilized cost-effective method for the initial evaluation and triage of thyroid nodules. On occasion, a variety of non-thyroidal lesions can be mistaken for thyroid nodules on physical examination or in imaging studies and aspirated. Paraesophageal/ pharyngoesophageal diverticula masquerading as a thyroid nodule have been reported in the radiology literature but, as far as we know, not in the cytology literature. We describe FNA of a paraesophageal diverticulum that had been reported as a thyroid nodule on ultrasound. Cytologists should be familiar with this entity and suggest the diagnosis when appropriate.