Ectopic thyroid with benign and malignant findings: A case series

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Ectopic thyroid tissue, a form of thyroid heterotopy, is a rare condition.
• It can lead to compression of the upper aerodigestive tract, causing symptoms like dysphagia.
• This abstract presents three cases of ectopic thyroid tissue, including two with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic challenges of ectopic thyroid tissue.
• To discuss the management of ectopic thyroid tissue with and without malignancy.
• To emphasize the importance of considering thyroid heterotopy in the differential diagnosis of neck lesions.

Main Methods:

• Case series presentation of three patients with ectopic thyroid tissue.
• Diagnostic workup included clinical examination, imaging (ultrasonography, scintigraphy, SPECT), and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB).
• Surgical resection of ectopic tissue and, in cases of PTC, total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) were performed.

Main Results:

• Diagnosis is challenging, requiring a combination of clinical, imaging, and histological findings.
• US-FNAB can be technically difficult and yield non-diagnostic results.
• Ectopic thyroid tissue was found in the lingual area, thyroglossal duct cyst, and submandibular region, with two cases showing PTC.

Conclusions:

• Surgical resection is the primary treatment for symptomatic ectopic thyroid tissue.
• Total thyroidectomy is indicated for malignant transformation (PTC).
• Thyroid heterotopy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oropharyngeal and neck masses.