Dual Thyroid Ectopia and Heterotopic Thyroid Autotransplantation

Ectopic thyroid gland can be detected at any age. It is a developmental defect that results from abnormal migration of the primitive thyroid bud. Dual ectopia is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported in literature. Patients with thyroid ectopia may be either euthyroid or hypothyroid. Concept of thyroid autotransplantation is based on restoring euthyroidism and is an attempt to preserve the autoregulatory mechanism of hormone production. This is a case of dual ectopia who underwent heterotopic thyroid autotranplantation. Images demonstrate hypertrophy of the transplanted thyroid tissue with gradual restoration of thyroid trapping function.