Keywords
Ectopic thyroid - subclinical hypothyroidism - thyroid hemiagenesis
Introduction
Embryological development of the thyroid gland begins from median diverticulum, an
endodermal thickening, in the floor of pharynx. It grows caudally as bifurcating tubular
ducts to form the lateral lobes and isthmus. Congenital thyroid anomalies may result
due to abnormal gland descent, defective organogenesis, incomplete genesis of a lobe
with or without ectopic thyroid tissue.[1]
Developmental abnormalities of the thyroid gland can be divided into three major groups:
agenesis of thyroid gland; dysgenesis of thyroid gland; and abnormalities due to persistence
of the thyroglossal duct. Dysgenesis can be in the form of hemiagenesis of the thyroid
or as an ectopic thyroid.
Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare congenital anomaly of thyroid in which one thyroid
lobe fails to develop, with or without agenesis of isthmus. The estimated prevalence
rate of thyroid hemiagenesis is 0.05–0.2%. The left lobe of thyroid gland is not formed
in approximately 80% of the cases. The isthmus is absent in approximately half of
the cases of thyroid hemiagenesis.[2] Ectopic thyroid tissue is an entity that is characterized by the presence of thyroid
tissue in locations other than its usual pretracheal location. Dual thyroid ectopia
is the presence of thyroid gland tissue in two different abnormal locations. It is
rare with incidence ranging from one in 50,000 to 70,000.[3] It is very uncommon to find both thyroid hemiagenesis and dual thyroid ectopia in
an individual.
Here, we report a patient having both the above mentioned congenital abnormalities.
To our knowledge, only one similar case report has been reported in the world literature.
Case Report
A 9-year-old girl presented to our service with a midline neck swelling in the infrahyoid
location for 3 years [Figure 1]. The swelling was painless, and gradually increasing in size. Clinical examination
of the neck was done which showed a soft swelling in the midline neck just below the
hyoid bone which moved freely with deglutition. The systemic examinations revealed
no significant abnormality. Thyroid function test was done which showed elevated TSH
(9.2 mIU/L) and normal free T4 (1.2 ng/ml). It was in keeping with subclinical hypothyroidism.
Then the patient was subjected to further radiological evaluation.
Figure 1: Clinical photograph of patient showing midline neck swelling below hyoid and above
the level of normal thyroid gland
Ultrasonography (USG) of the neck revealed absent isthmus and right lobe of thyroid
in thyroid fossa. The left lobe of thyroid was present in its usual location measuring
1.4 × 1.1 × 1 cm (small in size) with inhomogeneous hyperechoic echotexture. A well-defined
homogeneous tissue with internal vascularity was seen anterior to thyroid cartilage
in midline corresponding to clinically palpable neck swelling [Figure 2], suggesting the possibility of undescended remnant thyroid tissue.
Figure 2: Transverse USG neck image showing echogenic ectopic thyroid with internal vascularity
anterior to larynx
CT neck was performed which confirmed the USG findings and revealed additional findings.
On plain study, there were two well-defined hyperdense ectopic foci of thyroid tissue,
one in infrahyoid location along the course of thyroglossal duct (measuring 2.3 ×
1.5 × 1.3 cm) and other at prehyoid location (measuring 5.5 × 4 mm). On contrast study,
there was marked homogeneous enhancement in ectopic tissues while the normally located
left thyroid lobe was relatively less enhancing [Figure 3] and [Figure 4]. There was no evidence of calcifications, cystic, or nodular components within the
ectopic or orthotopic thyroid tissue.
Figure 3: Axial CT neck image showing normally located left lobe of thyroid (arrow) with non-visualisation
of isthmus and right lobe
Figure 4: Sagittal CT neck image showing two enhancing ectopic thyroid tissue in prehyoid (arrowhead)
and infrahyoid (arrow) locations in midline neck
99m Tc pertechnetate thyroid nuclear scan [Figure 5] revealed the functioning two ectopic thyroid tissues corresponding to their locations
on the CT scan. There was no uptake in normal location of thyroid gland which confirmed
that the left thyroid lobe was nonfunctioning.
Figure 5: 99m Tc pertechnetate thyroid scan shows two focal areas of radiotracer uptake in
midline neck with no evidence of uptake in normal thyroid bed
A final diagnosis of right thyroid hemiagenesis with nonfunctioning left thyroid lobe
and functioning dualthyroid ectopia in prehyoid and infrahyoid locations was made.
The patient was started on thyroxine 25mcg daily.
Discussion
The thyroid gland is the first endocrine gland to develop in an embryo around 4–5
weeks of gestation. It descends from the posterior dorsal midline of tongue to the
region in front of the second to fourth tracheal rings in neck. Anomalies of descent
lead to ectopic thyroid tissue, which may be found anywhere along thyroglossal duct.
The most common ectopic thyroid is lingual thyroid. It has also been reported at other
ectopic midline locations of the neck near the hyoid bone, larynx and trachea, mediastinum,
and esophagus. The pathogenesis of ectopic thyroid tissue is unclear. Genetic defects
including mutation in the paired box transcription, factor PAX8, and the thyroid transcription
factors TTF1 and TTF2 have been implicated.[4]
It is very rare to have two ectopic foci of thyroid tissue simultaneously and only
19 cases of dual ectopia with no normal thyroid have been reported in world literature.
It is more common in females with a female: male ratio of 1.25:1. In most cases, the
first ectopic focus is lingual or sublingual and the second is infrahyoid or suprahyoid.
In terms of thyroid function, about half of the patients are euthyroid and the rest
are hypothyroid. All diseases capable of affecting the normal thyroid can affect ectopic
thyroid such as the adenoma, hyperplasia, inflammation, and rarely malignancy.[5]
Thyroid hemiagenesis is a congenital abnormality in which one thyroid lobe fails to
develop with or without absence of isthmus. Many times, it is an incidental finding.
Coexisting thyroid disorders that have been reported in the remnant thyroid lobe include
hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, multinodular goiter, chronic thyroiditis, adenocarcinoma,
and papillary thyroid carcinoma which renders the normal thyroid lobe nonfunctioning.
Thyroid function is abnormal in 38–47% of the patients.[6]
In the present case, the isthmus and right lobe of thyroid was not seen in their usual
location in the neck, consistent with right thyroid hemiagenesis. The normally located
left thyroid lobe was nonfunctioning. Two functioning ectopic thyroid tissues were
noted in prehyoid and infrahyoid regions of neck in midline. In a similar study by
Velayutham et al. in 2013,[7] there was hemiagenesis of right lobe along with double ectopic thyroid tissue at
suprahyoid and infrahyoid regions, however, the left lobe of thyroid was normally
functioning in their study.
Radiological imaging modalities, such as USG, CT scan, and MRI help in establishing
the diagnosis.
Thyroid scintigraphy is complementary in confirming the location and function of ectopic
thyroid tissue,;however, it could be misleading sometimes as pathologies in thyroid
tissue render it nonfunctioning. Therefore, scintigraphy findings should be correlated
with findings of ultrasonography and cross-sectional imaging.
There is no consensus about the optimal management strategy of this rare entity. Surgery
is the treatment of choice in symptomatic cases. For completely asymptomatic and euthyroid
cases, regular follow-up is recommended to detect development of complications. For
mild symptoms of hypothyroidism, levothyroxine replacement therapy is effective.[8] Our patient is on regular follow-up since last 4 months. She was started on thyroxine
pharmacotherapy, the swelling was reduced, and patient is euthyroid at present.
Conclusion
We report this rare case of right thyroid hemiagenesis with nonfunctioning, normally
located left thyroid lobe and dual thyroid ectopia. To our knowledge, only one such
case has been reported in world literature till now.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms.
In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their
images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients
understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will
be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
