Lingual thyroid in a young asymptomatic female patient with hypothyroidism: Case report

Abstract

Introduction. Lingual thyroid is a rare condition where thyroid tissue is abnormally located at the base of the tongue due to embryological development issues. The precise prevalence is uncertain, as many asymptomatic individuals do not undergo clinical examination. Case report. We present a case of a 28-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism. The patient exhibited no symptoms indicative of lingual thyroid. A neck ultrasound identified hypoplastic thyroid tissue centrally in the neck and a solitary nodule in the submandibular region. Further evaluation with an oropharyngeal examination revealed a solid mass at the base of the tongue. A technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy, performed with single photon emission computed tomography on a hybrid gamma camera, demonstrated functional thyroid tissue at the tongue?s base, measuring 16 mm in diameter, with no functional glandular tissue in the central neck region. Conclusion. Asymptomatic lingual thyroid can be diagnosed through oropharyngeal examination, neck ultrasound and technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy using a hybrid gamma camera, which provides both functional and anatomical data. Management should be individualized based on the patient?s symptoms and thyroid hormone levels.