Open AccessA rare presentation of ectopic thyroid tissue in the submandibular region: a case report
Author(s) -
Theresa Obermueller,
Maximilian von Bernstorff,
Bruno Valentin Sinn,
Rakan Saadoun,
Bastian Gebhardt,
Veit Maria Hofmann
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.2021.39.217.27390
Subject(s) - medicine , ectopic thyroid , thyroid , differential diagnosis , magnetic resonance imaging , presentation (obstetrics) , thyroglobulin , neck mass , choristoma , radiology , surgery , pathology
Ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral neck is a rare finding, especially in the submandibular region. This case report presents a 38-year-old female patient with swelling in the lateral cervical neck. Due to a thyroid goitre, right hemithyroidectomy was performed in the past. However, a persistent high thyroglobulin level was detected after surgery. Regarding the suspected tumour in the submental region, a cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, which revealed a suspicious looking mass. The patient underwent complete surgical excision and the histopathological report concluded that the tumour was ectopic thyroid tissue. Her thyroglobulin level decreased back to a normal level after excision of the submandibular mass. These results show that ectopic thyroid tissue must be considered a differential diagnosis for patients with unclear swelling in the submental region.