Lingual thyroid: an unusual and surgically curable cause of sleep apnoea in a male.
BACKGROUND
Lingual thyroid is a rare embryological abnormality that occurs as a result of failed descent of the thyroid gland.


METHODS
We report the case of a 39-year-old male with an incidental finding of a lingual thyroid during intubation for surgery for lower limb fractures. A sleep study indicated an RDI of 38.6, consistent with severe sleep apnoea. The ectopic thyroid was excised via a suprahyoid approach, with resolution of apnoeic symptoms post-operatively. A follow-up sleep study subsequent to his operation confirmed an RDI of 3.7.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first time a lingual thyroid causing sleep apnoea has been studied with pre- and post-treatment sleep studies. This is also the first recorded instance of lingual thyroid causing sleep apnoea has been recorded in a male.
Peters
Peter
P
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Rd, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia. peter2734@gmail.com
Stark
Patrick
P
Essig
Garth
G
Lorincz
Balasz
B
Bowman
James
J
Tran
Khoa
K
Coman
Scott
S
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D046151:Lingual Thyroid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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