Hürthle Cell Carcinoma in a Lingual Thyroid

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Lingual thyroid is a rare congenital anomaly.
• Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) is an uncommon variant of thyroid cancer.

Observation:

• A 37-year-old female presented with dysphagia and recurrent hemorrhage.
• Histopathology confirmed HCC of the lingual thyroid.
• A trans-glossal surgical approach was utilized for tumor excision.

Findings:

• The trans-glossal approach provided adequate exposure and avoided external scarring or mandibular osteotomy.
• Histopathology revealed a positive right lateral resection margin.
• The patient was referred for radio-iodine ablation.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses like lingual thyroid HCC.
• The trans-glossal approach may be a viable surgical option for lingual thyroid tumors.
• Close follow-up and fine-needle aspiration biopsy are crucial for managing lingual thyroid abnormalities.