Lingual Thyroid

Introduction

• Embryological defect with failed migration of the thyroid gland from tongue base 
  • usually located in the midline neck
• typically is hypoactive thyroid tissue

Presentation

• Symptoms 
  • dysphagia for solids
  • hypothyroidism if tissue is hypoactive
• Physical exam
• palpation of midline mass

Evaluation

• ¹²³I scan
• identifies location of thyroid tissue

Treatment

• Surgical
  • excision if mass is obstructive
    • commonly requires hormone supplementation following excision as this may be the only functioning thyroid tissue in the body
• Medical
  • thyroxine supression
  • radioactive iodine ablation