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Updated: May 29, 2026

An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
Thyroid hemiagenesis: a case series and review of the literature
Yi-Hsuan Emmy Wu1, Richard O Wein, Barbara Carter
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. YWu@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to present a case series and review recommendations within the literature concerning thyroid hemiagenesis.
Materials And Methods:
This is a (1) retrospective case series review of 5 patients and (2) literature review (using Medline) on thyroid hemiagenesis.
Results:
Most reported cases are female with the left thyroid lobe absent. Compensatory hypertrophy occurs in most thyroid remnants. Associated diagnoses in the remaining lobe include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, simple and multinodular goiter, and carcinoma. There is no increased risk for the subsequent development of cancer in the remaining lobe, and empiric thyroidectomy is not justified.
Conclusions:
Thyroid hemiagenesis is an uncommon presentation that is frequently asymptomatic and detected incidentally when imaging for another condition. Awareness of its existence can help prevent unnecessary interventions associated with incorrect assumptions in patient care.
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