Display options
Cite
Pierro A, Cilla S, Modugno P, et al. Incidental Finding of Dual Ectopic Thyroid on Computed Tomography Angiography. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2017;7:30doi: 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17.
Pierro, A., Cilla, S., Modugno, P., & Sallustio, G. (2017). Incidental Finding of Dual Ectopic Thyroid on Computed Tomography Angiography. Journal of clinical imaging science, 730. https://doi.org/10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17
Pierro, Antonio, et al. "Incidental Finding of Dual Ectopic Thyroid on Computed Tomography Angiography." Journal of clinical imaging science vol. 7 (2017): 30. doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17
Pierro A, Cilla S, Modugno P, Sallustio G. Incidental Finding of Dual Ectopic Thyroid on Computed Tomography Angiography. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2017 Aug 03;7:30. doi: 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28852580; PMCID: PMC5559925.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

J Clin Imaging Sci. 2017 Aug 03;7:30. doi: 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17. eCollection 2017.

Incidental Finding of Dual Ectopic Thyroid on Computed Tomography Angiography.

Journal of clinical imaging science

Antonio Pierro, Savino Cilla, Pietro Modugno, Giuseppina Sallustio

Affiliations

  1. Radiology Unit, Foundation of Research and Cure "John Paul II", Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campobasso, Italy.
  2. Medical Physics Unit, Foundation of Research and Cure "John Paul II", Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campobasso, Italy.
  3. Vascular Surgery Unit, Foundation of Research and Cure "John Paul II", Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campobasso, Italy.

PMID: 28852580 PMCID: PMC5559925 DOI: 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_21_17

Abstract

The presence of simultaneous two ectopic foci of thyroid tissue (dual ectopic thyroid) is rare, and few cases have been reported in the literature. The ectopic thyroid tissue is an extremely uncommon embryological aberration due to the alterations occurring during the embryological development with incomplete migration of thyroid precursors. Commonly ectopic thyroid tissue is a midline structures, but the lateral location is possible but very rare. Ectopic thyroid is common in women and can vary in size from a microscopic focus to a few centimeters. The normal process of migration of the thyroid can be interrupted at various levels determining a lingual ectopy, a sublingual ectopic, prelaryngeal ectopy, or mediastinic ectopy. Intrathoracic and subdiaphragmatic organs are other sites where the ectopic thyroid tissue may be present. In most of the cases, ectopic tissue is a lingual thyroid and this condition can be totally asymptomatic, discovered incidentally, or occurs with symptoms such as dysphonia, dysphagia, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Sublingual or suprahyoid ectopia is rare and even rarer are the cases of two foci of ectopic thyroid tissue simultaneously present. On imaging, the ectopic tissue shows the same characteristics of orthotopic thyroid tissue and similarly can undergo goiterous and cancerous transformation. We report a case of incidental dual ectopic thyroid in lingual and suprahyoid level in a 72-year-old female patient, asymptomatic and with normal thyroid function, who underwent computed tomography (CT) angiography before vascular surgery for the treatment of carotid stenosis. The presence of a lingual thyroid can lead to a difficult and dangerous intubation, with possible fatal consequences. For this reason, the discovery of these abnormalities has totally changed the patient management who has been subjected to endovascular treatment, instead to the classical surgery.

Keywords: Dual ectopia; ectopic thyroid; incidental; lingual thyroid; suprahyoid thyroid

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2015 Jun;5(3):480-2 - PubMed
  2. Radiology. 1985 Jul;156(1):83-4 - PubMed
  3. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2012 Jul-Aug;18(4):335-43 - PubMed
  4. Int J Surg. 2014;12 Suppl 1:S3-11 - PubMed
  5. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007 Sep;133(9):941-2, 943-4 - PubMed
  6. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2012 Apr;33(2):104-14 - PubMed
  7. Anaesthesia. 2000 Nov;55(11):1103-5 - PubMed
  8. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011 Sep;165(3):375-82 - PubMed
  9. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 Apr;13(2):122-4 - PubMed
  10. J Nucl Med Technol. 2015 Mar;43(1):66-7 - PubMed
  11. Radiographics. 2014 Jan-Feb;34(1):37-50 - PubMed
  12. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2009 Aug;29(4):213-7 - PubMed
  13. Hell J Nucl Med. 2008 Sep-Dec;11(3):168-71 - PubMed
  14. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2008 Apr;35(4):843-6 - PubMed

Publication Types