Globus sensation in a 7 year-old girl

Introduction:

Thyroid ectopia is a rare developmental disorder without a specific incidence rate since mostly case reports have been published in the literature as of now. They develop usually as a result of incorrect descensus of the thyroid gland and therefore are found along the embryological migration pathway of the thyroid.

Material/methods:

A seven-year-old female patient presented at our clinic with a mild difficulty in swallowing and globus sensation. The general practitioner had already diagnosed a hyperplasia of the tongue base and clinical hypothyroidism. He had started her on a treatment with Levthyroxin. The patient showed no signs of developmental issues.

Results:

Physical examination of the patient showed a 2 cm mass at the base of the tongue. The ultrasound examination of the throat showed no signs of thyroid tissue loco typico. Instead there was sonographic evidence of thyroid like tissue at the tongue base which was about 2 cm in size. The MRI scan also depicted a 1,9 × 1,2 × 1,5 cm mass at the tongue base, which was identified as ectopic thyroid tissue using scintigraphy. Since the child presented with very mild symptoms, we refrained from surgically removing the ectopic thyroid tissue from the tongue base. The patient is at the moment under regular examinations by pediatric endocrinologists.

Discussion:

Although ectopic thyroid is a rare condition and even rarer in children, it should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in case of patients presenting with hypothyroidism and globus sensation. The treatment approach should be interdisciplinary, and the hormonal status of the patient should be considered.

Friederike Kaster

Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie (Direktor: Prof.,

Grendplatz 5, 45276

Essen

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
12 June 2019 (online)