Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in sublingual ectopic thyroid – case report

Introduction. Sublingual ectopic thyroid is a rare embryological anomaly caused by the failure of thyroid descent from the foramen caecum to its normal prelaryngeal position. Although often asymptomatic, this ectopic localization may produce various clinical manifestations. Case presentation. We report the case of a 24-year-old female, diagnosed since childhood with congenital hypothyroidism and previously treated with levothyroxine replacement therapy. She presented with nonspecific digestive symptoms (nausea, pyrosis, abdominal pain), and imaging investigations revealed the absence of orthotopic thyroid tissue and the presence of a sublingual ectopic thyroid gland, confirmed by scintigraphy. The treatment consisted of resuming hormone replacement therapy with dose adjustment and periodic monitoring. Conclusions. Sublingual ectopic thyroid is a rare entity that may represent the only source of functional thyroid tissue. Diagnosis relies on scintigraphy, while management should be individualized, ranging from hormone replacement therapy to surgical excision, depending on symptoms and complications.