Ectopic thyroid presenting as a submandibular mass

Follicular adenoma with a papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland: a case report

BACKGROUND

Follicular adenomas with papillary architecture are rare tumors of thyroid origin and are composed of completely encapsulated follicular cells with a papillary architecture lacking the nuclear characteristics of papillary carcinoma. Herein, we present a case of follicular adenoma with papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland, diagnosed from a mass in the submandibular region.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of a painless left submandibular mass that had been present for one year. The patient underwent left submandibular dissection for therapy and diagnosis. Microscopically, papillary lesions with fibrovascular cores were observed in the interior, and the epithelial cells were cylindrical in shape with eosinophilic cytoplasm, round or oval nuclei, with no pathological features, leading to a diagnosis of papillary carcinoma or follicular carcinoma. The mass was diagnosed as a follicular thyroid adenoma with papillary architecture. This is the first report of a follicular adenoma with a papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland.

CONCLUSION

This experience suggests that follicular adenoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of ectopic thyroid tumors.

Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid masquerading as metastatic carcinoma of the lung: a rare case scenario

BACKGROUND

The intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid gland is exceedingly rare since the ectopic thyroid was discovered. Only eight cases have been reported in the worldwide literature. We present a case of multiple intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid glands with nodular goiter in a 10-year-old girl.

CASE PRESENTATION

The girl was found with multiple intrapulmonary nodules in bilateral lungs during the treatment of nodular goiter. The intrapulmonary lesions were initially thought to be a high possibility of metastatic cancer. A computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was performed, and the pathological examination confirmed that the diagnosis was ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid.

CONCLUSION

The ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid should be considered when children with nodular goiter presenting with suspected metastases in the lung.

Tongue Base Ectopic Thyroid Tissue-Is It a Rare Encounter?

Failure in the embryological development of the thyroid in adults is rarely seen. We present the case of a 79-year-old female patient who complained of dysphagia and progressive upper respiratory obstruction, which started 12 months prior to her admission. An ENT clinical exam revealed a tongue base, spherical, well-defined tumour covered by normal mucosa. Further assessments established the diagnosis of the tongue base ectopic thyroid tissue. Due to the patient's symptoms, a transhyoid tongue base tumour removal was performed. The selected patient gave consent for participation and inclusion in this paper, in compliance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

Papillary Carcinoma in Thyroglossal Duct Cyst and Thyroid Gland with Hashimoto

The ectopic thyroid gland is a rare condition. In most cases, ectopic thyroid tissue is the only functioning thyroid tissue, but it may rarely be associated with a normal thyroid gland. Ectopic thyroid carcinoma within a thyroglossal duct cyst is a very rare entity, with controversial individual approaches. This encouraged us to present the case of a 31-year- old woman, with papillary thyroid carcinoma in the thyroid gland and in the thyroid ectopic tissue within the thyroglossal duct. After suspicion of thyroid malignancy in the ultrasonography of the neck, FNA-biopsy was performed on the thyroid nodule and the thyroglossal duct cyst. Since the pathological exam revealed a papillary carcinoma in the eutopic and ectopic thyroid tissues, the Sistrunk procedure and total thyroidectomy were done, followed by radioiodine ablation.

Ectopic thyroid carcinoma in the mandible with normally located goiterous thyroid gland: A case report

BACKGROUND

The presence of ectopic thyroid tissue is a developmental disorder that affects about one per 100,000-300,000 people. It is extraordinarily rare for ectopic thyroid to be out of the lines of its descent. This case is the first to report a cancerous ectopic thyroid in the mandibular bone with a goitrous orthotopic thyroid gland.

CASE PRESENTATION

80-year-old female of free medical background presented to our clinic with painless left mandibular swelling that recent increase in size after tooth extraction. Surprisingly the diagnosis of ectopic thyroid tissue with cancerous follicular cells was reached upon histological analysis. The goitrous thyroid gland was found in its expected cervical location, and the patient was euthyroid.

CONCLUSION

Because this diagnosis extremely rare, the possibility of ectopic thyroid carcinoma in cases of a pathological mass in the mandible must always be carefully thought out. A high degree of suspicion is essential as the unusual presentation could take.

Does surgical management still play a role in the management of ectopic lingual thyroid: Institutional experience and systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Management of ectopic lingual thyroid (ELT) must balance the morbidity of disease with the morbidity of treatment. We investigate clinical outcomes associated with modern treatment options and analyze the role of transoral surgery in the treatment algorithm for ELT.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of ELT patients treated at a tertiary care center from 1/1/1979 to 12/31/2019. In addition, a systematic review of the literature from 1979 to 2021 for reports of ELT was performed. Symptoms defined as high-risk were dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, neck swelling, bleeding, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

RESULTS

36 patients within the institutional cohort (IC) and 224 cases in the systematic review (SRC) met criteria. The most common presenting symptoms for both cohorts were dysphagia, globus sensation, and dysphonia. One third of each cohort were hypothyroid, while 3% (n = 1) and 9% (n = 21) of the IC and SRC, respectively, had clinical suspicion of malignancy at presentation. 27% (n = 10) of the IC and 55% (n = 121) of the SRC underwent surgical therapy. There was a 4% (3/72) transoral bleed rate for all patients undergoing transoral surgery. Other reported complications were minor. There were no tracheostomies, and no deaths. Among observed, medically treated, and surgically treated patients, symptoms improved during follow up for 43% or 68% in the IC and SRC, respectively. Following surgery, symptoms improved or resolved for 86% or 93% in the IC and SRC, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic ELTs with no concern for malignancy can be managed with observation. Patients with mild symptoms or hypothyroidism may trial thyroid suppressive therapy or RAI. RAI can be considered for patients with high-risk symptoms. For patients with symptoms resistant to conservative therapy, concern for malignancy or high-risk symptoms not conducive to RAI, surgery should be considered. Transoral approaches offer acceptable morbidity, and most patients experience resolution of symptoms following this approach.

Case of Colloid Nodular Goitre in a Rare Submandibular Location

Ectopic thyroid gland occurs due to aberrant descent of primitive thyroid gland to the final pre-tracheal position and failure of fusion of thyroid anlages. Submandibular ectopic thyroid is a rare thyroid anomaly that can present with or without an orthotopic thyroid gland. We present a case of a young female with hypothyroidism and left submandibular swelling demonstrated to be an ectopic thyroid with the colloid nodular goitre on imaging and cytology.

Ectopic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Mimicking Esophageal Cancer in FDG PET: A Case Report

Ectopic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) usually occurs along the cervical midline and was barely reported in FDG PET studies. We present a rare case of ectopic PTC within the esophagus with focal FDG activity on FDG PET in a 43-year-old woman who was previously diagnosed as having esophageal cancer based on the endoscopy and PET findings. Surgical pathology revealed the presence of PTC lesion within the muscular layer of the esophagus. Combining this with the negative imaging and laboratory results suggesting a normal thyroid gland led to a diagnosis of primary ectopic PTC.

Ectopic follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in anterior mediastinum with a normal thyroid gland. A case report

INTRODUCTION

Ectopic thyroid is rare, especially in the anterior mediastinum. Furthermore, true malignant transformation in ectopic location with normal orthotopic gland is exceptionally unusual. The authors have tried to put forward a challenging case of a malignant mediastinal mass managed successfully via a multidisciplinary approach.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report the case of a 55 year old female with ectopic follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer in the anterior mediastinum with no disease in the thyroid gland. Subsequently, complete excision of the mediastinal mass and total thyroidectomy was done followed by radio-iodine ablation with radiotherapy. Patient showed good uneventful recovery and remains tumor free till date.

CONCLUSION

The aim of this report is to bring forward malignant ectopic thyroid carcinoma as a differential for malignant mediastinal masses. It is emphasized that the diagnosis is made essentially through physical and pathological examination and, in most cases, only after surgery. A Multidisciplinary approach is recommended in such cases.

Submandibular Lateral Ectopic Thyroid Tissue: Ultrasonography, Computed Tomography, and Scintigraphic Findings

Ectopic thyroid can be encountered anywhere between the base of tongue and pretracheal region. The most common form is euthyroid neck mass. Herein, we aimed to present the findings of a female case with ectopic thyroid tissue localized in the left submandibular region. A 44-year-old female patient, who underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy four years ago with the diagnosis of multinodular goiter, was admitted to our hospital due to a mass localized in the left submandibular area that gradually increased in the last six months. Neck ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and scintigraphic examination were performed on the patient. On thyroid scintigraphy with Tc-99m pertechnetate, thyroid tissue activity uptake showing massive radioactivity was observed in the normal localization of the thyroid gland and in the submandibular localization. The focus in the submandibular region was excised. Pathological examination of the specimen showed normal thyroid follicle cells with no signs of malignancy. The submandibular mass is a rarely encountered lateral ectopic thyroid tissue. Accordingly, ectopic thyroid tissue should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses in the submandibular region.

Importance of ectopic thyroid tissue detected in the midline of the neck: single center experience

OBJECTIVE

Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare abnormality of the thyroid gland and the true prevalence and importance is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasonography (US) guided fine needle aspiration biposy (FNAB) results, sonographic features, and frequency of ETT detected in the midline of the neck.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Five thousand five hundred and twenty outpatients who were referred to our thyroid clinic between September 2010 and April 2012 and underwent thyroid US, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with ETT, detected in the midline of the neck in US were included in the study. Thyroid functions, sonographic features, and US guided FNAB results were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 81 (81.8%) female and 18 (18.2%) male patients with a mean age of 50.9 ± 11.7. The ETT in the midline was present in 1.79% (99/5,520) of the patients. In the majority of the patients, benign sonographic features (isoechoic, regular margin, type 1 vascularization) were detected. There were 92 (92.9%) patients with a previous history of thyroidectomy and all were histopathologically benign. In 7 (7.1%) patients, there was no history of thyroid operation. FNAB results of ETT were benign.

CONCLUSION

This study evaluated the importance of ETT detected incidentally in the midline of the neck. Especially in patients with a history of thyroidectomy, the thyroid masses in the midline of the neck can be found as incidental with imaging methods. Our results suggests that the incidence of malignancy in this group is much lower than orthotopic thyroid nodules and they are often benign.

Midline Ectopic Thyroid Mimicking as a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare developmental abnormality. A case is reported here of ectopic thyroid tissue that presented as a midline mass, mimicking a thyroglossal duct cyst. The thyroid gland was not visualized in its normal position. This report highlights the importance of imaging in the preoperative evaluation of a midline neck mass.

Rate of thyroglossal duct remnant visualization after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma and its impact on clinical outcome of radioactive iodine (I-131) ablation

Objectives:

The rate and impact of thyroglossal duct remnant (TGDR) visualization in patients with hypothyroidism after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) have not yet been fully determined. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of TGDR visualization in post total thyroidectomy whole body scan (WBS) for DTC and to evaluate its impact on the outcome of I-131 ablation.

Methods:

A total of 60 consecutive DTC patients (51 papillary thyroid Ca., and 9 Follicular thyroid Ca.), underwent total thyroidectomy, followed by WBS (using I-131 in 28 patients and I-123 in 32 patients), neck ultrasound (US), thyroglobulin (Tg) and Tg anti-bodies (TgAb) assay after 40 days and subsequent I-131 ablation. At 6 months later follow-up I-131 WBS, neck U/S, Tg and TgAb were performed following suspension of L-thyroxine for 1-month (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] >30 μIU/ml) in 53 patients and following recombinant human TSH stimulation in seven patients.

Results:

Of the studied 60 patients, 19/60 (31.7%) had a linear or focal radioactivity at the superior midline of the neck, suggesting TGDR (Group 1), and 41/60 (68.3%) had no uptake to suggest TGDR (Group 2). No significant difference regarding age, gender and histopathology between both groups. Neck US showed no evidence of thyroid tissue in the superior midline of the neck in both groups, and only a small or no residual thyroid tissue in patients of Group 1. There was a significant successful I-131 ablation rate among patients of group 1 compared to group 2 (79% in Group 1 vs. 41.5% in Group 2) (P = 0.007).

Conclusions:

Thyroglossal duct remnant visualization on WBS of hypothyroid subjects after total thyroidectomy suggests presence of only a small or no residual functioning thyroid tissue at the thyroid bed and can predict a good response to I-131 ablation.

Ectopic thyroid tissue surrounding the right laryngeal nerve: a case report

Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare developmental anomaly of the thyroid tissue which is defined as the presence of thyroid tissue in locations other than the pretracheal area. However, ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral neck surrounding the recurrent laryngeal nerve is unusually found. Here we describe a case of a 64-year-old woman who was found bilateral thyroid goiter by the ultrasound examination. The total thyroidectomy plus a modified radical neck dissection was performed. Surprisingly we also found a nodule surrounding the right recurrent laryngeal nerve at the same time. Nevertheless the diagnosis of the nodule was confirmed by pathology and Histologic examination demonstrating that it was ectopic thyroid tissue. Ectopic thyroid tissue surrounding recurrent laryngeal nerve is a rare finding, with hardly any cases reported. For it is generally thought that any thyroid tissue found in the lateral aspect of the neck may indicate metastatic deposits from well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Although pathogenesis of ectopic thyroid tissue surrounding recurrent laryngeal nerve without any symptoms remains unknown, our case could suggest ectopic thyroid tissue should not be excluded in the differential diagnosis of lateral neck masses especially when the recurrent laryngeal nerves were surrounded by the nodules.

Coexistence of non-functional ectopic thyroid tissue and a normal thyroid: A case report

The aim of this study was to report a rare case of non-functional ectopic thyroid tissue in the neck with a coexisting normal thyroid. A 36-year-old female presented with a mass in the anterior neck. The thyroid function of the patient was normal. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a normal thyroid gland and a solid mass in the middle lower neck. Scintigraphy showed a normal thyroid and the mass did show any uptake of ^99mTcO_4^- . The patient underwent en bloc resection. During surgery, the mass was observed to be well encapsulated and completely separated from the thyroid gland. Histology revealed it as ectopic thyroid tissue. The patient had an uneventful recovery.

Incidental focal uptake in oropharynx due to lingual thyroid on diagnostic 131I whole-body scan after total thyroidectomy

After total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma, a 37-year-old woman underwent a 2-mCi (131)I whole-body scan which demonstrated focal uptake in the anterior neck and in the oropharynx. Preoperative contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography demonstrated a small enhancing nodule typical for ectopic thyroid at the tongue base. She was then treated with 150 mCi (131)I. Small asymptomatic lingual thyroid remnants typically do not affect high-dose (131)I therapy.

Thyroid papillary carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within a branchial cleft cyst

Ectopic thyroid tissue comprises a rare clinical entity which can clinically manifest with the whole spectrum of thyroid disorders, including thyroid malignancy. Thyroid carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue is extremely rare, with only a few cases described in the literature so far. We present a very unusual case of a primary papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a left lateral branchial cyst, describing our diagnostic and therapeutic approach for this uncommon clinical entity. This is the first case where recombinant thyrotropin was used along with radioiodine treatment in primary ectopic thyroid cancer.

Evidence for calcitonin-producing cells in human lingual thyroids

CONTEXT

The thyroid contains two types of cells, the thyroid follicular cells and the calcitonin-producing cells. The site of origin of the thyroid follicular cells is the median thyroid anlage, an endothelial diverticulum in the midline of the ventral pharynx between the first and the second pharyngeal pouches. The ultimobranchial bodies (UBB), a pair of transient embryonic structures evaginated from the fourth pharyngeal pouch and located symmetrically on the sides of the developing neck, are the source of calcitonin-producing cells. In human embryos, the thyroid bud starts its migration at embryonic day 24 and reaches its final location in front of the trachea at embryonic day 45-50. The UBB fuse with the primitive thyroid when thyroid migration is completed. Lingual thyroids result from the failure of the thyroid precursor cells to migrate from the primordial pharynx to the anterior part of the neck. Therefore, calcitonin-producing cells are not expected to be present in lingual thyroids.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine whether calcitonin-producing C cells are present in ectopic lingual thyroids.

DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

We performed calcitonin immunolabeling and transcript detection on four flash-frozen ectopic lingual thyroids. Additional calcitonin immunolabeling was performed on two other paraffin-embedded ectopic lingual thyroids.

RESULTS

We report evidence of calcitonin-producing cells in six independent cases of ectopic lingual thyroids.

CONCLUSION

The UBB are not the only source of calcitonin-producing cells in humans. Interactions between calcitonin-producing and thyroid follicular cells occur earlier than previously accepted.

Thyroid Tissue Connected to Normally Located Thyroid Gland: Ectopic or Exophytic?

Ectopic thyroid tissue is seen rarely. It is often seen in cervical midline, and rarely in other areas such as submandibular area. Diagnosis is made histopathologically by fine needle biopsy after the elimination of malignancy. In the treatment of ectopic thyroid tissue, surgical excision is mostly applied. According to our knowledge, there is no exophytic thyroid tissue reported in the literature. In this paper, a 32-year-old woman who presented with a swelling under the right jaw and found a thyroid tissue attached to the normally located thyroid gland with a fibrous band in the neck was discussed.

Ectopic thyroid tissue: anatomical, clinical, and surgical implications of a rare entity

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare entity resulting from developmental defects at early stages of thyroid gland embryogenesis, during its passage from the floor of the primitive foregut to its final pre-tracheal position. It is frequently found around the course of the thyroglossal duct or laterally in the neck, as well as in distant places such as the mediastinum and the subdiaphragmatic organs. Although most cases are asymptomatic, symptoms related to tumor size and its relationship with surrounding tissues may also appear. Any disease affecting the thyroid gland may also involve the ectopic thyroid, including malignancy. The clinician must distinguish between ectopic thyroid and metastatic deposits emerging from an orthotopic gland, as well as other benign or malignant masses. Thyroid scintigraphy plays the most important role in diagnosing ectopy, but ultrasonography contributes as well. In cases of symptomatic disease, surgery is the treatment of choice, followed by radioiodine ablation and levothyroxine suppression therapy in more refractory cases. This review provides current understanding about the wide clinical spectrum of this rare condition, also referring to optimal diagnostic approach, differential diagnosis, and management strategies.