Clinical characteristics of ectopic thyroid in Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ectopic thyroid is a rare entity and can occur at any location in the midline position. A role for the ectopic thyroid in the pathogenesis of hypothyroidism and nongoitrous cretinism has been emphasized.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the clinical characteristics of an ectopic thyroid by analyzing 49 cases reported in Korea.

DESIGN:

This study was a retrospective review of 19 cases who were diagnosed by thyroid scan at our institutions together with 30 cases reported in the Korean medical literature, found using KoreaMed.

MAIN OUTCOMES:

Most cases of ectopic thyroid were diagnosed in patients aged between 1 and 29 years; it was more common in females (43 patients). A lingual thyroid was found in 23 patients, a sublingual thyroid in 17 patients, combined type in 7 patients, a prelaryngeal thyroid in 1 patient, and an intratracheal thyroid in 1 patient. Only four cases had the thyroid gland in the normal position. The chief complaints at presentation were palpable mass in 20 patients, growth retardation in 10 patients, and a lump sensation in the throat in 6 patients. Twenty-six of 42 patients (61.9%) had hypothyroidism, and 16 patients (38.1%) had euthyroidism. As for the treatment modalities, 18 of 26 patients with hypothyroidism and 4 of 16 patients with normal thyroid function received thyroid hormone medication; 3 of 26 patients with hypothyroidism and 8 of 16 patients with euthyroidism underwent resection of the ectopic thyroid.

CONCLUSION:

Our study suggests that radionuclide thyroid scanning and function testing may be useful not only for the diagnosis of an ectopic thyroid but also before deciding on the therapeutic modality; patients should be followed up to detect changes in thyroid function and malignant transformation.

• Authors: Ji Sung Yoon, Kyu Chang Won, Ihn Ho Cho, Jae Tae Lee, Hyoung Woo Lee
• Journal: Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association (Thyroid) Vol. 17 Issue 11 Pg. 1117-21 (Nov 2007) ISSN: 1050-7256 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17887928 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Choristoma (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Korea (epidemiology)
• Lingual Thyroid (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Retrospective Studies
• Thyroid Gland (diagnostic imaging)