Albrecht A, Penger T, Marx M, Jüngert JM, Kuwert T, Dörr HG (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Book Volume: 168
Pages Range: 442-445
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1007/s00112-018-0564-5
Background: An ectopic thyroid gland is a rare anomaly due to the incomplete descent of the thyroid gland during the embryonic developmental migration process. The ectopic thyroid tissue is normally located in the area from the tongue to the diaphragm but lingual and sublingual locations preferentially occur. In a child with congenital hypothyroidism, which was detected during neonatal screening, the ectopic gland could be diagnosed during the further clarification. Case report: This article reports on the case of a girl who was presented to the pediatrician for clarification of chronic abdominal pain at the age of 6 years and 3 months. As an incidental finding the pediatrician diagnosed a subclinical hypothyroidism (serum TSH 23.3 mU/l, fT3 and fT4 normal) and initiated treatment with L‑thyroxine (L-T4). The psychomotor, growth and weight development had always been age-appropriate. At the initial presentation in this outpatient department the girl was 6 years and 5 months old, was clinically and biochemically euthyroid, and the body measurements were normal. The thyroid autoantibodies were inconspicuous. The ultrasound scan revealed a small lingual thyroid-like tissue (volume 0.9 ml) with no thyroid tissue in the typical site. A thyroid scintigraphy confirmed the diagnosis. Under the weight-adapted medication with L‑thyroxine the patient never developed symptoms of hypothyroidism and the volume of the lingual thyroid did not increase. The patient is currently 11 years and 8 months old (height 146.9 cm, weight 33.3 kg, Tanner stage B 2) and attends a grammar school. Conclusion: A thyroid gland at the base of the tongue is a rare cause of latent hypothyroidism and is difficult to diagnose when there is a lack of clinical symptoms. It can be detected at any age as an incidental finding.
APA:
Albrecht, A., Penger, T., Marx, M., Jüngert, J.M., Kuwert, T., & Dörr, H.-G. (2020). Ektope Lage einer Schilddrüse im Zungengrund – Zufallsdiagnose bei einem 6‑jährigen Mädchen. Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde, 168(5), 442-445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-018-0564-5
MLA:
Albrecht, Andrea, et al. "Ektope Lage einer Schilddrüse im Zungengrund – Zufallsdiagnose bei einem 6‑jährigen Mädchen." Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde 168.5 (2020): 442-445.
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