Giant thyroid nodule atypically located in the carotid triangle of the neck: a case report

Abstract

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare pathology of the thyroid that is formed by the abnormal migration of the thyroid tissue. It is seen once in about every 100.000 to 300.000 births and is generally asymptomatic. Asymptomatic ectopic thyroid tissue may grow larger and become symptomatic in the form of a neck mass due to thyroid tissue hyperplasia. The thyroid gland, apart from its normal localization before the trachea, may lie between the tongue root and the trachea generally on the middle line at any level. A 71-year-old male patient presented to our ear- nose and throat clinic with a mass of 5x4x3 cm located in the right carotid triangle. The thin-needle aspiration biopsy specimen was reported as thyroid tissue and sub-sequently the mass was excised under general anesthesia. The histopathological evaluation of the mass revealed that it was an atypically located ectopic thyroid nodule. No complications were seen within one year follow-up of the patient.