Diagnosis and treatment of lingual thyroid: a review

Lingual thyroid is a rare developmental anomaly. It occurs because of the defective descent of thyroid tissue through the thyroglossal duct to its normal pretracheal position. In this study, two patients who presented with a mass in the oropharynx, finally diagnosed as lingual thyroid are presented, and the literature is reviewed. The masses were 3 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm and 3.5 x 3 x 3 cm in size. The diagnosis was based on the clinical features, fine needle aspiration biopsy, laboratory tests and radiographic imaging studies. The first case was treated medically with thyroxine. No treatment was given for the second case because of the patient's refusal. Both cases have not required additional therapy so far.