Clinical Case: Ectopic Lingual Thyroid in Adult Hypothyroid Patient. Casual Diagnosis by Computed Tomography

Abstract

Introduction: Cases of ectopic thyroid located at the base of the tongue are rare and difficult to diagnose congenital abnormalities. Reason for presenting the case.

Clinical case: The case corresponds to a 41-year-old woman with thyroid based on the tongue diagnosed incidentally with computed tomography (CT), with a history of hypothyroidism and right breast cancer. On the physical examination of the neck, the thyroid gland is not palpated, and no mass or bump is observed in the oral cavity. For breast cancer control, positron emission tomography (PET) and neck ultrasound are requested, radiopharmaceutical uptake is reported in the anterior and upper cervical neck region, and absence of thyroid glandular tissue at the usual level, respectively. As a simple and contrasted CT scan, a hypercapting nodular image measuring 23x20x20 mm, well defined, regular contours is observed at the root of the tongue, does not infiltrate adjacent tissues, oropharynx light imprint, without individualizing the thyroid gland to usual level, thus corroborating the diagnosis of lingual ectopic thyroid.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of ectopic thyroid in an adult hypothyroid patient is rare, so CT should be considered if the physical and ultrasound examination is not palpable or observable.