The importance of thyroid scanning in neck lumps--a case report of ectopic tissue in the right submandibular region.

We describe the case of a 50-year-old previously well female, who presented with a slowly growing mass in the right submandibular region. Imaging confirmed the absence of a normally placed thyroid and the presence of a lingual thyroid. The submandibular mass was excised and histological examination confirmed ectopic thyroid tissue. The embryological descent of the thyroid and the Sistrunk procedure are discussed as well as the importance of thyroid scanning in neck lumps.