0
ARTICLE |

Ectopic Thyroid Glands Simulating Thyroglossal Duct Cysts: Title and subTitle BreakHypothyroidism Following Surgical Excision FREE

Alva L. Strickland, MD; Jefferys A. Macfie, MD; Judson J. Van Wyk, MD; Frank S. French, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (Dr. French).


JAMA. 1969;208(2):307-310. doi:10.1001/jama.1969.03160020075007
Text Size: A A A
Published online

Ectopic thyroid glands have frequently been surgically removed with the mistaken diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cyst. In three cases removal of thyroid tissue caused profound hypothyroidism before the condition was recognized and treated. Analysis of earlier growth measurements revealed that hypothyroidism was present prior to surgery and was the stimulus for compensatory enlargement of the ectopic glands. A fourth patient with ectopic thyroid tissue showed no compensatory enlargement despite the early evidence of hypothyroidism. These cases illustrate the spectrum of thyroid dysgenesis and the importance of the small foci of functioning thyroid tissue during the critical period of central nervous system development.

REFERENCES

Gross, R.E. and Connerly, M.L.:  Thyroglossal Cysts and Sinuses , New Eng J Med 223:616-624 ( (Oct 17) ) 1940;.
Sistrunk, W.E.:  The Surgical Treatment of Cysts of the Thyroglossal Tract , Ann Surg 71:121-122 ( (Feb) ) 1920;.
Odell, W.D.; Stevenson, J.K.; and Williams, R.H.:  Treatment of Lingual Goiter With Triiodothyronine , J Clin Endocr 19:363-368 ( (March) ) 1959;.
McGirr, E.M., and Hutchinson, J.H.:  The Value of Radioiodine (131I) in Juvenile Myxedema Due to Ectopic Thyroid Tissue , Arch Dis Child 29:561-564 ( (Dec) ) 1954;.
Hung, W., et al:  Lingual and Sublingual Thyroid Glands in Euthyroid Children , Pediatrics 38:647-651 ( (Oct) ) 1966;.
Little, G., et al:  "Cryptothyroidism," the Major Cause of Sporadic "Athyreotic" Cretinism , J Clin Endocr 25:1529-1536 ( (Dec) ) 1965;.
McGirr, E.M., and Hutchinson, J.H.:  Dysgenesis of the Thyroid Gland as a Cause of Cretinism and Juvenile Myxedema , J Clin Endocr 15:668-679 ( (June) ) 1955;.
Dimson, S.B.:  Juvenile Myxedema Due to Removal of Ectopic Thyroid , Proc Roy Soc Med 49:941 ( (May 3) ) 1956;.
Turcot, J.:  Lingual and Hyoid Thyroid , Amer J Surg 104:677-681 ( (Nov) ) 1962;.
Quigley, W.F.: Williams, L.F.; and Hughes, C.W.:  Surgical Management of Subhyoid Median Ectopic Thyroid , Ann Surg 155:305-308 ( (Feb) ) 1962;.
Saiki, J.H.:  Severe Myxedema Following Inadvertent Removal of an Ectopic Thyroid Resembling a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst , J Lancet 87:7-9 ( (Jan) ) 1967;.
French, F.S., and Van Wyk, J.J.: " Etiology and Pathophysiology of Congenital Hypothyroidism ," in Crispell, K.R. (ed.): Current Concepts in Hypothyroidism , New York: Pergamon Press, Inc., 1963;, pp 17-41.
Carr, E.A., Jr., et al:  The Various Types of Thyroid Malfunction in Cretinism and Their Relative Frequency , Pediatrics 28:1-16 ( (July) ) 1961;.
Neimann, N., et al:  Role of Thyroid Ectopy in the Genesis of Myxedema , Arch Franc Pediat 15:315-342 (No. (3) ) 1958;.
Gabr, M.:  The Role of Thyroid Dysgenesis and Maldescent in Cretinism , J Pediat 60:830-835 ( (June) ) 1962;.
French, F.S., and Van Wyk, J.J.:  Fetal Hypothyroidism , J Pediat 64:589-600 ( (April) ) 1964;.
Kulin, H.E., et al:  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in Thyroid Dysgenesis , J Pediat 71:714-717 ( (Nov) ) 1967;.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

Gross, R.E. and Connerly, M.L.:  Thyroglossal Cysts and Sinuses , New Eng J Med 223:616-624 ( (Oct 17) ) 1940;.
Sistrunk, W.E.:  The Surgical Treatment of Cysts of the Thyroglossal Tract , Ann Surg 71:121-122 ( (Feb) ) 1920;.
Odell, W.D.; Stevenson, J.K.; and Williams, R.H.:  Treatment of Lingual Goiter With Triiodothyronine , J Clin Endocr 19:363-368 ( (March) ) 1959;.
McGirr, E.M., and Hutchinson, J.H.:  The Value of Radioiodine (131I) in Juvenile Myxedema Due to Ectopic Thyroid Tissue , Arch Dis Child 29:561-564 ( (Dec) ) 1954;.
Hung, W., et al:  Lingual and Sublingual Thyroid Glands in Euthyroid Children , Pediatrics 38:647-651 ( (Oct) ) 1966;.
Little, G., et al:  "Cryptothyroidism," the Major Cause of Sporadic "Athyreotic" Cretinism , J Clin Endocr 25:1529-1536 ( (Dec) ) 1965;.
McGirr, E.M., and Hutchinson, J.H.:  Dysgenesis of the Thyroid Gland as a Cause of Cretinism and Juvenile Myxedema , J Clin Endocr 15:668-679 ( (June) ) 1955;.
Dimson, S.B.:  Juvenile Myxedema Due to Removal of Ectopic Thyroid , Proc Roy Soc Med 49:941 ( (May 3) ) 1956;.
Turcot, J.:  Lingual and Hyoid Thyroid , Amer J Surg 104:677-681 ( (Nov) ) 1962;.
Quigley, W.F.: Williams, L.F.; and Hughes, C.W.:  Surgical Management of Subhyoid Median Ectopic Thyroid , Ann Surg 155:305-308 ( (Feb) ) 1962;.
Saiki, J.H.:  Severe Myxedema Following Inadvertent Removal of an Ectopic Thyroid Resembling a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst , J Lancet 87:7-9 ( (Jan) ) 1967;.
French, F.S., and Van Wyk, J.J.: " Etiology and Pathophysiology of Congenital Hypothyroidism ," in Crispell, K.R. (ed.): Current Concepts in Hypothyroidism , New York: Pergamon Press, Inc., 1963;, pp 17-41.
Carr, E.A., Jr., et al:  The Various Types of Thyroid Malfunction in Cretinism and Their Relative Frequency , Pediatrics 28:1-16 ( (July) ) 1961;.
Neimann, N., et al:  Role of Thyroid Ectopy in the Genesis of Myxedema , Arch Franc Pediat 15:315-342 (No. (3) ) 1958;.
Gabr, M.:  The Role of Thyroid Dysgenesis and Maldescent in Cretinism , J Pediat 60:830-835 ( (June) ) 1962;.
French, F.S., and Van Wyk, J.J.:  Fetal Hypothyroidism , J Pediat 64:589-600 ( (April) ) 1964;.
Kulin, H.E., et al:  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in Thyroid Dysgenesis , J Pediat 71:714-717 ( (Nov) ) 1967;.
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Submit a Response

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.