Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Arising from Lingual Thyroid

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Ectopic thyroid tissue can occur in various locations, with the lingual thyroid being the most common site.
• Malignancies arising from ectopic thyroid glands are rare, representing only 1% of all such cases.
• Lingual thyroid carcinoma presents unique diagnostic and management challenges due to its location.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a young female with a lingual thyroid.
• To review the diagnostic modalities for lingual thyroid carcinoma.
• To discuss the surgical treatment and follow-up of lingual thyroid malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a young female with a bleeding mass at the base of the tongue.
• Review of radiological studies (e.g., ultrasound, CT, MRI) for evaluating lingual thyroid abnormalities.
• Histological examination for definitive diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
• Discussion of surgical approaches and post-operative management.

Main Results:

• A bleeding mass at the base of the tongue was identified as papillary thyroid carcinoma originating from a lingual thyroid.
• Diagnostic workup involved a combination of imaging and histopathology.
• The patient underwent surgical treatment and is currently under follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Papillary thyroid carcinoma of the lingual thyroid is an exceedingly rare entity.
• A comprehensive diagnostic approach integrating radiological and histological evaluations is crucial for suspicious lingual thyroids.
• The diagnostic and therapeutic principles for lingual thyroid carcinoma are consistent with those for orthotopic thyroid cancer.