Presentation
History of snoring. Parents noticed a mass in the child's throat.
Patient Data
Age: 5 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Lingual thyroid
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Info
There is a dumbbell-shaped, homogeneously enhancing mass at the base of the tongue.
The thyroid is not identified at its usual location.
From the case:
Lingual thyroid
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Info
Two rounded, avascular heterogeneous masses correlate with the masses seen on CT.
No thyroid tissue is seen within the thyroid bed.
Case Discussion
A lingual thyroid is the most common location for ectopic thyroid tissue (90% of cases). During development, thyroid tissue migrates caudially within the midline from the foramen caecum.
Ectopic thyroid tissue may also be found in sublingual, prelaryngeal or mediastinal locations.
In children, a lingual thyroid may rarely cause airway compromise.
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