Autotransplantation of ectopic lingual thyroid--a case report

A 22 year-old female came to our clinic complaining of a swallowing disturbance and dyspnea. ENT examination revealed a spherical mass at the base of the tongue partially obstructing the airway. Scintigraphy with an iodine isotope confirmed that the mass was an ectopic thyroid. Under general anesthesia, and the mass was carefully dissected together with its the feeding vessels and transplanted into the right submandibular gland was removed the space that had been created. The postoperative course was uneventful. Thyroid function one month after surgery was at the same level as before surgery, and scintigraphy two months after the operation revealed normal uptake in the area of the transplanted thyroid.