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. 2015:2015:265207.
doi: 10.1155/2015/265207. Epub 2015 Feb 15.

Conservative management for lingual thyroid ectopic

Eder Alberto Sigua-Rodriguez  1 , Douglas Rangel Goulart  1 , Luciana Asprino  1 , Afonso Celso de Moraes Manzano  2
Affiliations

Conservative management for lingual thyroid ectopic

Eder Alberto Sigua-Rodriguez et al. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2015.

Abstract

Lingual thyroid gland is a rare clinical entity. The presence of an ectopic thyroid gland located at the base of the tongue may be presented with symptoms like dysphagia, dysphonia, and upper airway obstruction. We are introducing a case of an 8-year-old girl who had lingual thyroid that presented dysphagia and foreign body sensation in the throat. The diagnostic was reached with clinical examination, thyroid scintigraphy with Tc(99m) and ultrasound. A laryngoscopy was performed which confirmed a spherical mass at base of tongue. Investigation should include thyroid function tests. In this case we observed subclinical hypothyroidism. There are different types of surgical approaches for the treatment of this condition; however, the treatment with Levothyroxine Sodium allowed the stabilization of TSH levels and clinical improvement of symptoms in a follow-up of 2 years.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scintigraphy—left side of neck. The quantification of radiopharmaceutical uptake by this change lies within the normal range of thyroid uptake.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scintigraphy interpretation. (a) Cricoid cartilage, (b) sternal furculum. Absence of uptake in the thyroid bed (anterior neck) with probable location at the base of the tongue, suggestive of ectopic thyroid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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