We
report all year-old boy
who presented with difficulty in
swallowing without symptoms of
hypothyroidism. The
physical examination revealed a mass at the base of the
tongue. The
thyroid hormone profile showed a
primary hypothyroidism (a
serum TSH of 10.8 IU/mL with normal-low thyroxin of 6.0
fig/dL and low
triiodothyronine of 57.8 ng/ dL). Antithyroid
antibodies were negative. The fiberoptic
endoscopy showed a reddish mass, without evidence of haemorrhage or ulceration, confirmed as a well circumscribed, hypodense mass in the base of the
tongue by computed
tomography of the
oropharynx and
neck. Tc-99-
pertechnetate scanning showed an abnormal area of uptake at the base of the
tongue and no uptake in the normal
thyroid location, concordant with an ectopic
lingual thyroid gland. Levothyroxine in a suppressive
dose was started that resulted in a reduction of the size of the mass and disappearance of
dysphagia.