Ectopic multinodular goitre.

Abstract

A 61-year-old man presented with a slowly enlarging lateral neck mass. There was no other associated ENT symptoms. Clinical examination was unremarkable. The pan endoscopy was normal. The mass when excised was found to be subplatysmal. The histology was that of a multinodular thyroid tissue. Subsequent investigations showed normally placed thyroid with multinodular changes. Laterally placed thyroid tissue have been reported since the 18th century. Initially, they were found to contain malignant tissue and hence the term lateral aberrant thyroid tumours. In later years, benign ectopic thyroid tissue was described in the lateral neck. It is now felt that ectopic thyroid tissue are derived from thyroid cell rests that have failed to fuse with the main thyroid tissue during development. They are subjected to the same goitrogenic stimulation as the normally placed thyroid tissue. Our case supports the view that not all laterally placed thyroid tissue are malignant.