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Benign ectopic thyroid tissue in a cutaneous location: a case report and review
Kim Maino1, Henry Skelton, Josef Yeager
1Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|December 24, 2003
Summary
Aberrant thyroid tissue in adults can be benign and present as a neck mass, not always indicating cancer or endocrine issues. This case highlights a rare instance of ectopic thyroid alongside a normal gland, possibly due to a genetic mutation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Aberrant thyroid tissue in adults was historically associated with metastatic thyroid carcinoma.
- Benign ectopic thyroid tissue is more commonly identified during endocrine dysfunction evaluations.
- Rarely, aberrant ectopic thyroid presents as a primary neck mass.
Observation:
- A 35-year-old female presented with a lifelong posterior lateral neck nodule.
- Histologic and immunohistochemical studies were performed on the neck nodule.
Findings:
- The neck nodule was confirmed as aberrant, benign ectopic thyroid tissue.
- The patient exhibited no endocrine dysfunction and possessed a normally located, functioning thyroid gland.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates that aberrant thyroid tissue in adults is not invariably malignant or linked to endocrine disorders.
- It highlights the uncommon coexistence of ectopic thyroid tissue and a normal, functioning orthotopic thyroid gland.
- A somatic mutation affecting thyroid migration is proposed as a potential explanation for these findings.