Ectopic lingual thyroid with vascular anomalies

Abstract

Maria Rita Bianco, Alessandro La Boria, Teresa Franco, Pierpaolo Ferrise, Eugenia AllegraDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, ItalyBackground: Lingual thyroid represents 90% of ectopic thyroid tissue localizations. The first case was described by Hickman in 1869. An ectopic thyroid is often asymptomatic, but pathological or physiological conditions inducing hyperproduction of thyroid-stimulating hormone can lead an ectopic thyroid to become symptomatic. Treatment of the symptomatic ectopic thyroid can be medical, with hormone-suppressing therapy, or surgical.Case presentation: A 17-year-old female presented to our outpatient clinic complaining of a sensation of a lump in her throat. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination identified a swelling of the base of the tongue in the glossoepiglottic area. Thyroid scintigraphy showed a single contrast enhancement in the sublingual region, instead of in the normal anatomical position of the thyroid. She was treated surgically after failed hormone-suppressing therapy. An arteriography performed before the surgery showed vascular anomalies and was useful in surgical planning.Conclusion: Recognition of vascular anomalies in an ectopic thyroid is fundamental before surgical planning, therefore, accurate radiological study of the vasculature should always be planned before surgical treatment of this disease.Keywords: ectopic thyroid, arteriography, transoral approach, tongue