Clinical characteristics of ectopic thyroid in Korea.
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Yoon
Ji Sung
JS
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.
Won
Kyu Chang
KC
Cho
Ihn Ho
IH
Lee
Jae Tae
JT
Lee
Hyoung Woo
HW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002828:Choristoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D046151:Lingual Thyroid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging