Glial teratoma thought to be a lingual thyroid

A case of a glial teratoma occurring in the tongue of a twelve week old male child is presented. This lesion was thought clinically to be a lingual thyroid. Histopathological examination revealed the true nature of the lesion. The mother had noticed the lesion since birth but only sought medical attention when the child developed difficulty in breathing. Teratomas in the head and neck region are uncommon and are commonly diagnosed wrongly as lingual thyroid. These lesions are usually benign.