Dual Ectopic Thyroid with Normally Located Thyroid: A Case Report

Bipul Kumar Choudhury,Swapna Dewri,Sarojini Dutta Choudhury,Uma Kaimal Saikia,Santanu Barua,Dipti Sarma,Mihir Saikia

doi:10.4061/2011/159703

Bipul Kumar Choudhury, Swapna Dewri + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.4061/2011/159703

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Abstract

Dual ectopic thyroid is a rare presentation of thyroid ectopia. Only a few cases have been reported in the world literature. Dual ectopic thyroid in the presence of a normally located thyroid is even rarer. We report a case of dual ectopic thyroid in the lingual and submandibular areas in a seventeen-year-old female with hypoplastic thyroid gland in its normal location. The patient presented with a midline swelling at the base of tongue with dysphagia. Thyroid function test revealed primary hypothyroidism. Ultrasonography of the neck showed hypoplastic thyroid in its normal location. A thyroid scan with Technetium-99 m pertechnate showed two intensely hyperfunctioning foci of ectopic thyroid tissue at a higher level in the midline consistent with dual ectopic thyroid, one at the base of tongue and the other in submental region. No uptake was seen in the normal bed.

Highlights

Ectopic thyroid is a developmental defect of thyroid gland that leads to presence of thyroid tissue at sites other than its normal cervical location
Ectopic thyroid was first described by Hickman in 1869 in a newborn who was suffocated 16 hours after birth because of a lingual thyroid causing upper airway obstruction
Lingual thyroid is the most common ectopic thyroid accounting for 90% of all cases with a prevalence between 1 : 100000 and 1 : 300000 and a clinical incidence between 1 : 4000 and 1 : 10000 [1]

Summary

Case Report

Bipul Kumar Choudhury, Uma Kaimal Saikia, Dipti Sarma, Mihir Saikia, Sarojini Dutta Choudhury, Santanu Barua, and Swapna Dewri. Dual ectopic thyroid is a rare presentation of thyroid ectopia. A few cases have been reported in the world literature. Dual ectopic thyroid in the presence of a normally located thyroid is even rarer. We report a case of dual ectopic thyroid in the lingual and submandibular areas in a seventeen-year-old female with hypoplastic thyroid gland in its normal location. The patient presented with a midline swelling at the base of tongue with dysphagia. Ultrasonography of the neck showed hypoplastic thyroid in its normal location. A thyroid scan with Technetium-99 m pertechnate showed two intensely hyperfunctioning foci of ectopic thyroid tissue at a higher level in the midline consistent with dual ectopic thyroid, one at the base of tongue and the other in submental region.

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