Double thyroid ectopia (with incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma) (2010: 8b)

We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a long-standing history of a slow-growing left submandibular mass. Imaging was diagnostic as it disclosed an absent orthotopic thyroid gland and heterogeneous masses, with both solid and cystic components, as well as calcifications in the left sublingual/submandibular space and in the left paramedian aspect of the tongue base, consistent with double thyroid ectopia, originating from central and lateral thyroid anlages, respectively. Pathology confirmed an ectopic thyroid goiter in the left submandibular space with an incidental papillary microcarcinoma. Scintigraphy also demonstrated ectopic thyroid tissue in the left tongue base. (orig.)