Aim: To show the advantage of endoscopic approach for lateral ectopic thyroid removal.
Background: Ectopic thyroid tissue lateral to midline is very rare. Because of its unusual location, lateral ectopic thyroid gland can cause diagnostic difficulties when diseased.
Ectopic thyroid tissue usually occurs in the midline and that too most commonly in cervical region(lingual - 90%)1,2,3,4.Its prevalence is approximately 1/100,000–1/300,0005. The remaining ectopic thyroid glands(10%) can be found ininfrahyoid, submandibular, prelaryngeal, mediastinum, esophagus, heart, diaphragm and parapharyngeal regions. In most of the cases the ectopic thyroid gland will be the only functioning gland. Ectopic thyroid tissue lateral to midline is very rare. These lateral ectopic thyroid tissues when diseased may lead to difficulty in diagnosis due to its unexpected location. Here we are going to present a case of a male patient with submandibular ectopic thyroid tissue with multinodular goitre and absent normal tissue in normal anatomic site.He underwent endoscopic assisted total thyroidectomy. This technique for ectopic thyroid removal has not been reported in literature so far.
Case description: Here we are presenting a case of a male patient with submandibular ectopic thyroid tissue with multinodular goitre and absent thyroid tissue in normal anatomic site. He underwent endoscopic assisted total thyroidectomy. This technique for ectopic thyroid removal has not been reported in literature so far.
Conclusion: Endoscopic approach for removal of the diseased gland will allow for a magnified view of the adjoining structures and better cosmesis for the patient
Clinical Significance: Lateral ectopic thyroid should be in differential diagnosis of lateral neck swellings.
Keywords: Ectopic thyroid, Submandibular region, Endoscopic thyroidectomy
