Ectopic lingual thyroid as unusual cause of severe dysphagia

Abstract

Ectopic lingual thyroid is an uncommon embryological aberration characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue located in a site different from the pretracheal region as in the normal. Lingual thyroid is the most frequent ectopic location of the thyroid gland, although its clinical incidence varies between 1:3000 and 1:10,000. We present the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented severe dysphagia caused by a mass located on the base of the tongue in the midline. An endoscopic partial removal of the ectopic tissue allowed her to rapidly regain her swallowing capacity. The literature regarding the incidence and diagnosis of lingual thyroid is reviewed and the possibilities of treatment discussed.