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Thyrotoxicosis in a patient with submandibular thyroid
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. rkphulia@hotmail.com
Summary
A rare case of ectopic thyroid tissue in the submandibular region causing thyrotoxicosis is presented. This lateral aberrant thyroid tissue was successfully treated with radioactive iodine therapy, restoring normal thyroid function.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Ectopic thyroid tissue, typically found along the midline due to developmental migration anomalies, is a rare condition.
- Lateral aberrant thyroid tissue, located outside the typical midline developmental pathway, presents diagnostic and management challenges.
Observation:
- A 42-year-old female presented with thyrotoxicosis and a submandibular neck mass.
- Technetium-99m-sodium pertechnetate scintigraphy confirmed thyroid tissue in the left submandibular region with no uptake in the orthotopic thyroid gland location.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with a lateral aberrant thyroid gland presenting as a submandibular mass and thyrotoxicosis.
- Radioactive iodine (131I) therapy effectively treated the hyperfunctioning ectopic thyroid tissue, rendering the patient euthyroid.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering ectopic thyroid tissue in the differential diagnosis of neck masses and thyrotoxicosis, even when located laterally.
- The successful management with radioactive iodine underscores its efficacy in treating hyperfunctioning lateral aberrant thyroid tissue.
- A review of existing literature identified seven previously reported cases of lateral aberrant thyroid tissue, contributing to a limited but growing understanding of this rare entity.