Journal of Thyroid Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Triple Ectopic Thyroid: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Kuramoto R, Oikawa K, Fujita K, Oridate N and Fukuda S

Ectopic thyroid is an embryological abnormality resulting from the aberrance or failure of thyroid gland descent. We present a case of triple ectopic thyroid in a 10-year-old girl. Plain computed tomography and Tc-99m scans showed three ectopic thyroids located near the hyoid bone with no normally positioned thyroid. The patient was euthyroid at presentation, but hypothyroidism was observed five months later. On treatment with levothyroxine (75 μg/day), FT4 and TSH returned to normal ranges. Cases of multiple ectopic thyroidare are rare, with the present case being only the third case of triple ectopic thyroid presented. A careful follow-up is required because the incidence of malignancies associated with ectopic thyroid can be as high as 10%. Surgical treatment should be considered when the patient shows symptoms such as dysphagia, dysphonia, bleeding or dyspnea.