An Unusual Cause of Tracheostomy

Abstract

Abstract

Lingual thyroid is a rare embryological anomaly, which occurs due to failure of thyroid gland to descend from the foramen cecum to its normal pretracheal position. It is usually asymptomatic but can cause symptoms, such as dysphagia, foreign body sensation, dysphonia, airway obstruction, hemorrhage, often with hypothyroidism. Lingual thyroid is associated with the absence of normal thyroid in 70% of cases. Herein we report the case of a 32-year-old female who presented with a swelling over the base of the tongue with dysphagia, with a recently done tracheostomy to relieve dyspnea by an ENT surgeon. A clinical, radiological, and thyroid scan with technetium Tc-99m confirmed the presence of the only functioning thyroid tissue in the base of the tongue. The patient was treated initially with Radioiodine Ablation with ¹³¹I, since attempts to surgically remove the mass elsewhere by a surgeon went in vain, then put on replacement doses of thyroxine, and 4 weeks later decannulated.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Runtime of video: 2 mins