Abstract: Papillary carcinoma is the most common malignancy of thyroid gland and presents generally as a thyroid nodule. Extra thyroidal extension of papillary carcinoma invoving exclusively skin is very rare. We present a case of 65 year old male with papillary carcinoma of thyroid arising from isthmus presenting as a cystic skin swelling with discharging sinus masquerading as adenxal tumour/minor salivary gland tumour.