Ectopic lingual thyroid with subclinical hypothyroidism in children.

OBJECTIVES: Lingual thyroid is a rare condition that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 individuals. Although it is usually detected in the pediatric population through newborn screening tests or evaluation of congenital hypothyroidism, there are cases in which it remains undetected until adulthood or until symptoms arise because of glandular enlargement. The possible symptoms of lingual thyroid include foreign body sensation in the throat, dysphagia, dyspnea, and hemorrhage. Several cases of lingual thyroid are asymptomatic and accompanied by subclinical hypothyroidism. Herein, we present three cases of lingual thyroid treated with thyroid hormone suppressive therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: The three patients sought medical attention because of a sore throat or foreign body sensation in the throat. Their newborn screening tests and developmental histories were normal. These patients exhibited subclinical hypothyroidism and were treated with hormone suppression therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with lingual thyroid frequently exhibit subclinical hypothyroidism. Hormone treatment may help to reduce the size of the ectopic thyroid and improve symptoms. If an increase in size is noted during follow-up or symptoms do not improve, surgical treatments may be considered.

A surgical partial excision for the treatment of lingual ectopic thyroid: a case report.

The lingual ectopic thyroid is a sporadic case. Based on the medical records of Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, they only found one case of ectopic thyroid at least in the last ten years. There is no consensus in the literature about the best therapeutic strategy in managing ectopic thyroid. A 20-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of ectopic lingual thyroid. She has complained of lumps at the base of her tongue since she was ten years old. She performed a partial excision of the tumor with a transoral approach. Partial excision of the lingual ectopic thyroid results in an airway free from obstruction, leaving the rest of the thyroid tissue functioning so that the patient does not require lifelong hormone treatment but has the potential for hypertrophy to recur. The transoral approach provides post-operative results that maintain aesthetic function and reduce morbidity and hospitalization. Partial excision of lingual ectopic thyroid gives good results.

Lingual thyroid in a 16-year-old girl.

Lingual thyroid is a rare congenital disorder displaying ectopic thyroid tissue at the base of the tongue. This is the most common location for ectopic thyroid tissue and is usually the only thyroid tissue present. This is a case report of a 16-year-old female who presented with nasal congestion. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed swelling at the base of the tongue and an ultrasound examination of the neck was without visible thyroid tissue. A 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy confirmed the clinical diagnosis. As the patient was euthyroid and without symptoms active surveillance was planned.

Airway management in patients with lingual thyroid: a case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To review the management of patients with lingual thyroid (LT) causing upper airway obstruction and to suggest a diagnostic and therapeutic workflow. METHODS: A PubMed review of published cases from January 1980 up to December 2020 of LT causing upper airway obstruction. We selected cases of confirmed LTs that presented with non-state-dependent airway obstruction. An illustrative case report is presented. RESULTS: Twenty-one articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria were found, reporting 24 cases (7 neonatal, 2 pediatric and 15 adults). The main presenting symptoms was dyspnea with increased work of breathing, followed by dysphagia and stridor most commonly in neonates. At least one imaging modality was performed in all patients. Thyroid function was altered in half the patients and normal in the other half. The LT was the only thyroid tissue in all cases except 2. Altogether, 5/24 patients required tracheostomies and two-thirds of the patients underwent surgical resection of the LT (mostly transoral). Also 2/3 of the patients received thyroid replacement therapy. After a median follow-up of 17 months, airway symptoms had fully resolved for all patients but one. CONCLUSION: While rare, ectopic LTs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stridor, dyspnea and airway obstruction. In neonates, concomitant presence of hypothyroidism on neonatal screening and airway obstruction should prompt the search for a LT. Early identification and thyroid replacement therapy seem to significantly relieve symptoms of upper airway obstruction, but severe obstruction and concomitant airway lesions may require more definitive management approaches.

Lingual thyroid with severe hypothyroidism: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic thyroid tissue presenting at the base of the tongue, called lingual thyroid, is a clinical rarity. Clinical presentation varies depending upon either the severity of regional symptoms associated with the enlargement of gland size, or the features related to thyroid dysfunction. PATIENT CONCERNS: We reported a case of a 29-year-old female who presented with symptoms of easy fatigue and depression for 3 months. DIAGNOSIS: After a series of diagnostic workup, the lingual thyroid with severe hypothyroidism was diagnosed. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: She received conservative treatment with thyroid hormone replacement and the symptoms improved significantly. LESSONS: Lingual thyroid is a rare entity that needs careful diagnostic workup including clinical examination, biochemical tests, imaging methods such as ultrasonography, scintigraphy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fine-needle aspiration cytology to plan the management. Lingual thyroid with hypothyroidism and no neck regional symptoms can be conservatively treated and requires regular follow-up for the prevention of potential risk of malignant transformation.

Transoral robotic resection of a lingual thyroid: a novel treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.

A 34-year-old woman with a history of congenital hypothyroidism and 15 years of obstructive sleep apnoea was admitted with a left submandibular swelling secondary to a dental infection. A CT scan of the neck identified an incidental 27 mm tongue base mass and the absence of any cervical thyroid tissue. This mass was not observable on examination of the oropharynx but was seen on fine nasendoscopy while thyroid function tests showed good thyroid stimulating hormone suppression. Her acute dental infection was treated and, following multidisciplinary team discussion, she was diagnosed with an ectopic lingual thyroid. She was offered different management options including no intervention and radio-iodide treatment but opted for transoral robotic resection. The lesion was resected en bloc with clear margins and histology confirmed lingual thyroid tissue. Since the procedure, she has remained free of sleep apnoea with a significantly improved quality of life.

[Vesicular carcinoma in lingual thyroid: a rare case]. / Carcinome vesiculaire sur thyroïde linguale: cas rare.

Lingual thyroid is secondary to the absence of migration of the thyroid diverticulum. The latter develops locally, that is, at the level of the foramen caecum. It may be the only thyroid tissue present, or it may be associated with a normal thyroid. The occurrence of a lingual thyroid carcinoma is rare accounting for about thirty cases described in the literature. This study reports a case of vesicular carcinoma in lingual thyroid.

A large lingual thyroid extending to the epiglottis.

A 22-year-old man presented to our department with a mass on the base of his tongue. He had a cavernous voice causing a moderate speech disorder, and he had some difficulty in swallowing. He had severe problems with sleep, associated with apnoea. In a fibreoptic laryngoscopic examination, a large 4×5 cm vascular mass was detected extending from the base of the patient's tongue to his epiglottis. It covered the epiglottis. Thyroid scintigraphy showed only thyroid tissue on the base of the tongue. Surgery was initiated transorally under the guidance of a rigid endoscope, but as the mass continued extended to the epiglottis, a transhyoid approach was taken. At a 3-month follow-up, the patient was symptom free. Electrocautery-assisted resection under the guidance of a rigid endoscope can reliably be used in surgery of a lingual thyroid. However, a transhyoid approach provides a better view and also helps in achieving haemostasis.

Lingual thyroid: can we 'wait and see'?

A 42-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a sensation of fullness in the throat and dry cough of 1-month duration. Physical examination showed a mass located in the midline of the tongue base. Cervical ultrasound confirmed the absence of thyroid gland tissue in the normal position. MRI of the neck showed a mass suggestive of lingual thyroid and scintigraphy confirmed the diagnosis. Thyroid function was normal. Despite normal thyroid function, to decrease the size of the mass and perhaps solve the problem, we decided to start levothyroxine suppression therapy. The patient had palpitations and one episode of angina pectoris as a side effect, resulting in the medication being interrupted. After 3 years of follow-up, she remains in clinical surveillance and without symptoms.

Incidental lingual thyroid informs surgery.

This case study presents an incidental noting of a lingual thyroid on thyroid scintigraphy that had implications in later breast surgery. This information changed patient management and mitigated risk during intubation for breast cancer surgery.

Transoral robotic excision of ectopic lingual thyroid: Case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical excision of an ectopic lingual thyroid has traditionally been associated with significant morbidity and has therefore been reserved for patients with severe obstructive symptoms or suspected malignancy. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has provided a minimally invasive approach to completely and safely excise ectopic lingual thyroid. METHODS: Three index cases were identified from the detailed clinical database of TORS patients. A systematic review of the management of ectopic lingual thyroid in the English literature was performed. RESULTS: TORS-assisted excision of a lingual thyroid gland was successfully performed in 3 patients with excellent functional outcomes CONCLUSION: TORS-assisted excision of an ectopic lingual thyroid is a safe and feasible treatment modality with minimal morbidity, and, in experienced hands, should be offered as a valid treatment for this pathology.

Normal variations of oral anatomy and common oral soft tissue lesions: evaluation and management.

Examination of the oral cavity can provide significant diagnostic information regarding the general health of the patient. The oral cavity is affected by a multitude of pathologic conditions of variable cause and significance; however, there are numerous normal variations of oral soft tissue structures that may resemble a pathologic state. Understanding these variations assists practitioners to discriminate between normal versus abnormal findings and determine the appropriate course of management, if necessary.