ECTOPIC THYROID-GLAND SIMULATING A THYROGLOSSAL DUCT CYST - A CASE-REPORT

There have been many reports of the inadvertent removal of an ectopic thyroid gland that was mistaken for a thyroglossal duct cyst. The diff erentiation of these two conditions is extremely important, because in advertent removal of an ectopic thyroid gland may result in profound h ypothyroidism. The authors report the case of a 5-year-old girl with a n ectopic thyroid gland in whom the preliminary diagnosis was a thyrog lossal duct cyst. They review the embryologic features in the developm ent of an ectopic thyroid gland and discuss an approach to the managem ent of this congenital anomaly.