Dysphagia and dyspnea by lingual thyroid mass: An appropriate approach

Lingual thyroid is a rare embryological anomaly originated from the thyroid gland failure that descends from the foramen cecum to its normal eutopic pre-laryngeal site. The case in this study was a 39 year old female, presenting with the sensation of a foreign body, progressive dysphagia and dyspnea. Indirect laryngoscopy revealed a large well-defined mass in the tongue base. Imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of large ectopic lingual thyroid. The surgery was performed via an external cervical approach due to the mass size. The decision on the best treatment looks into the mass position, size, symptoms, airway emergency and medical facilities.