Benign ectopic thyroid tissue in a cutaneous location

a case report and review

Maino, Kim
Skelton, Henry
Yeager, Josef
Smith, Kathleen J.

¹Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
²Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

Kathleen J. Smith, COL, MC USA, Department of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Alabama, EFH Suite 414, 1720 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294-0009, USA Tel: +1 205 975 6964 Fax: +1 205 975 6922 e-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 August, 2002

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 31(2):p 195-198, February 2004.

Background

For many years, lateral, aberrant thyroid tissue in adults was a term used almost exclusively for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. However, aberrant, benign ectopic thyroid tissue does occur, and it is most commonly found as a part of the evaluation of endocrine dysfunction. Rarely, aberrant, benign ectopic thyroid presents as a primary mass.

Case report

We present a 35-year-old female who presented for removal of a lifelong posterior lateral neck nodule.

Results

Histologic examination and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the presence of aberrant, benign ectopic thyroid tissue. The patient had no endocrine problems, and she had a normally located and functioning thyroid gland.

Conclusions

This case illustrates that not all aberrant thyroid tissues in adults are malignant or associated with endocrine disorders. This case also illustrates the rare association of ectopic thyroid and a normally located and functioning thyroid gland. In this patient, a somatic mutation in a transcription factor important in thyroid migration could explain these findings.