The clinicopathological features, treatment outcomes and follow-up results of 47 ectopic thyroid gland cases: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Ectopic thyroid gland (ETG) is an uncommon clinical condition, presenting various challenges and limitations in its regulate diagnosis and treatment currently. This study aims to enhance our understanding of ETG and improve the strategies for its diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The retrospective single-center study was conducted, encompassing clinical data from ETG patients screened at our institution between 2013 and 2022. Patients were categorized based on the location of the disease, and follow-ups were performed on each. Results: This study included a total of 47 patients who were confirmed to hav confirmed to have ETG. Among them, we found 29 cases of accessory thyroid and 18 cases of aberrant thyroid. Furthermore, 42 cases exhibited the single ETG, while 5 cases displayed the double ETG. The distribution of the ETG was as follows: 20 were lingual, 10 were submandibular, 10 were lateral cervical, 4 were thoracic mediastinal, 1 was esophageal, and 7 were ovarian. Of these cases, 22 patients underwent surgery, 18 received thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and 7 were placed under observation. All patients were followed up for 59.4 (12-117) months. No significant abnormalities were detected at the conclusion of the follow-up period. Conclusion: ETG is frequently observed in the head and neck, particularly in lingual. Accessory thyroid glands are commonly reported, with most cases being single ETG. Notably, these glands usually do not manifest specific clinical symptoms. Therefore, the appropriate and comprehensive examinations during the initial diagnosis are crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. Treatment should be individualized, and long-term follow-up is essential for managing ETG effectively.

Diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical features , diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid in order to avoid misdiagnosis and mismanagement .Methods Six cases of ectopic thyroid admitted to Fuzhou Gen-eral Hospital from Jan .2000 to Oct.2011 were retrospectively analyzed and the literatures were reviewed .Re-sults Three cases of ectopic thyroid were located in the anterior cervical area , 2 cases were at the base of the tongue and 1 case in the gall bladder .Two cases of aberrant thyroid were confirmed preoperatively in patients whose gland wasn't discovered by imaging examinations at the normal position of the thyroid gland .A symptomless individual of aberrant thyroid did not need other treatment but follow-up.One case with foreign body sensation in pharynx had a good response to thyroxine therapy .Four cases with accessory thyroid were operated because of misdiagnosis .Three cases were ectopic thyroid tissue and one was nodular goiter confirmed by pathology .None of these patients developed hypothyroidism after surgery .Conclusions Ectopic thyroid gland is a rare disease fre-quently misdiagnosed and mistreated .Goiters in the commonly location of ectopic thyroid gland such as the anteri-or cervical area and the base of the tongue should be paid special attention .Hormonal therapy or surgical inter-vention should be chosen according to clinical features , type of the goiter , thyroid function and whether it is be-nign or malignant .Long term follow-up and thyroid function tests are absolutely necessary .

An accessory thyroid gland that presented tumor-like images.

A 26-year-old woman presented with right breast pain and itching. Incidentally, a firm, non-tender, movable mass (3 cm in diameter) located in the lower right part of the neck was identified by palpation. Ultrasonography revealed a clearly demarcated dumbbell-shaped mass with homogenous hypo- (cranial side) and hyper-echogenicity (caudal side) compared with the thyroid gland. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging presented images that were different from thyroid gland substance. The right thyroid lobe was strongly compressed by the mass. Hyperparathyroidism was ruled out by laboratory testing. The patient solicited resection of the mass despite recommendations for core needle biopsy, and it was removed surgically. The mass was surrounded by a thin capsule and was not connected with the thyroid gland. Pathological examinations revealed normal thyroid gland tissue. The final diagnosis was an accessory thyroid gland. Accessory thyroid glands should be considered as a possible diagnosis when nodules around the main thyroid gland are encountered.

Diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid gland / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid gland and to improve the management of ectopic thyroid. Methods The clinical data of 15 cases of ectopic thyroid in our hospital and the literatures were analyzed. The clinical features of ectopic thyroid gland, its diagnosis and the treatment were summarized. Results Of the 15 cases, 13 cases underwent operation. Among them, 9 cases showed symptom relief and their thyroid gland function resumed normal with no reoccurrence, 3 cases were complicated by temporary hypothyroidism and 1 case was misdiagnosed and mistreated, resulting in permanent hypothyroidism and lifetime thyroid hormone replacement. Conclusions Ectopic thyroid gland is a rare disease which was frequently misdiagnosed and mistreated. Improvement of related examination is essential in reducing misdiagnosis and mistreatment.