The importance of thyroid scanning in neck lumps – a case report of ectopic tissue in the right submandibular region

Abstract

We describe the case of a 50-year-old previously well female, who presented with a slowly growing mass in the right submandibular region. Imaging confirmed the absence of a normally placed thyroid and the presence of a lingual thyroid. The submandibular mass was excised and histological examination confirmed ectopic thyroid tissue. The embryological descent of the thyroid and the Sistrunk procedure are discussed as well as the importance of thyroid scanning in neck lumps.

Thyroid tissue as a submandibular mass: a case report

“…One of the very rare locations for ectopic thyroid tissue as a mass is the submandibular region (7). Some reported cases of this lesion are listed in Table 1 (4,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). From the data in this table and results of the present study, ectopic thyroid tissue as a submandibular mass is most common in females and may present in any age.…”

Dual thyroid ectopia with a normally located pretracheal thyroid gland: Case report and literature review

“…However, such thyroid follicular cells cannot function as normally developed thyroid follicular cells. Radkowski et al11 and Morgan et al12 both proposed that hypoglossal duct cysts can be displaced from the midline. Laterally displaced ectopic thyroid tissue is likely related to this phenomenon.…”

Triple ectopic thyroid

“…5 In most of the cases of ectopic thyroid, up to 75% of patients may have no functioning thyroid tissue in the neck. 6 As a result if the tissue at the base of tongue is not recognised as thyroid and is resected, the patient may become acutely and severely hypothyroid. 7 On non-contrast CT images the ectopic thyroid tissue appears hyperdense due to its iodine content.…”