Dual thyroid ectopy in an old woman

ABSTRACT

Very few cases with dual thyroid ectopy and a normally located thyroid gland have been reported. A 65 years old woman presented with hemoptysis and mild dysphagia 5 years after thyroidectomy. On direct laryngoscopy a supraglotic mass was detected and removed; which on histopathology turned to be an ectopic thyroid tissue. On barium swallow lateral view of the neck demonstrated a mass between trachea and esophagus at C4-6 level. CT scan confirmed a high attenuation, mass posterior to trachea in sub-cricoid area. Suspecting another ectopic thyroid here, Technetium-99 scans were done, while on thyroxine and 4 weeks without it earlier was inconclusive but the later confirmed another ectopic thyroid in thyroid bed on left side with a tail on right. The diagnosis was dual ectopic thyroid tissue in supraglottic area and the thyroid area [laterally and to the left] extending between trachea and esophagus at C4-6 level producing difficulty in breathing and mild dysphagia. This was a case of dual ectopic thyroid. It emphasizes that thyroid scan should be routinely performed in all thyroid cases and all the suspicious areas studied