Ectopic thyroid tissue accompanied by distinct blood supply and lymphoid tissue within the carotid sheath - a case report.
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract
Rationale
Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is not extremely rare, but it may be overlooked in clinical practice because of its frequently asymptomatic presentation, lack of urgency for diagnosis, and limitations in diagnostic techniques. We report a case of ETT within the carotid sheath and emphasize its distinct blood supply and accompanying lymphoid tissue, which may improve our understanding of the relationship among the ETT, associated blood supply, and lymphoid tissue from an embryological perspective.Patient concerns
A 42-year-old male was found to have an asymptomatic mass on the right side of his neck during a routine physical examination.Diagnoses
Color Doppler ultrasound demonstrated a thyroid gland in the normal location. The mass measured 1.3 cm × 0.9 cm × 0.5 cm in dimensions with well-defined margins, had a similar echotexture to that of the thyroid gland, and a very short venous trunk draining directly into the internal jugular vein.Interventions
The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass. Histopathological examination after excision confirmed ETT with eminent vasculature and adjacent lymphoid tissue.Outcomes
The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been followed up for 5 years, during which neither recurrence nor thyroid dysfunction was observed.Lessons
ETT can occur within the carotid sheath even in the presence of a normally located thyroid gland. A distinct vascular supply may represent a useful imaging clue for its diagnosis. Further studies are warranted to investigate the potential embryological association among ETT, its vasculature, and adjacent lymphoid tissue during thyroid descent.
Related
- Ectopic Thyroid Tissue Mimicking a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in a Child: A Diagnostic Pitfall Leading to Postoperative Hypothyroidism
- The Impact of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction on Cerebrovascular Pathology: A Focus on Carotid Atherosclerosis and Stroke Severity
- Recurrent Ischemic Stroke after Carotid Artery Stenting for Thyroid Cartilage Induced CCA Stenosis: Was Stenting an Appropriate Treatment?
- Life-Saving Emergency Decompression via a Clamshell Approach for Cardiac Arrest Caused by Hemorrhage of a Giant Mediastinal Ectopic Thyroid: A Case Report.
- Distinct Cross-Vascular Association Patterns of Carotid Plaque Burden and Vulnerability Features with Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden in Patients Undergoing Carotid Revascularization
BibTeX
@article{chen2026ectopic,
title = {{Ectopic thyroid tissue accompanied by distinct blood supply and lymphoid tissue within the carotid sheath - a case report.}},
author = {Min Chen and Liu Yang and Wen Li and Yan Gao},
journal = {Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1097/md.0000000000051110},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42888624},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ectopic thyroid tissue accompanied by distinct blood supply and lymphoid tissue within the carotid sheath - a case report.
AU - Min Chen
AU - Liu Yang
AU - Wen Li
AU - Yan Gao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Medicine
DO - 10.1097/md.0000000000051110
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42888624
AB - Rationale Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is not extremely rare, but it may be overlooked in clinical practice because of its frequently asymptomatic presentation, lack of urgency for diagnosis, and limitations in diagnostic techniques. We report a case of ETT within the carotid sheath and emphasize its distinct blood supply and accompanying lymphoid tissue, which may improve our understanding of the relationship among the ETT, associated blood supply, and lymphoid tissue from an embryological perspective.Patient concerns A 42-year-old male was found to have an asymptomatic mass on the right side of his neck during a routine physical examination.Diagnoses Color Doppler ultrasound demonstrated a thyroid gland in the normal location. The mass measured 1.3 cm × 0.9 cm × 0.5 cm in dimensions with well-defined margins, had a similar echotexture to that of the thyroid gland, and a very short venous trunk draining directly into the internal jugular vein.Interventions The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass. Histopathological examination after excision confirmed ETT with eminent vasculature and adjacent lymphoid tissue.Outcomes The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been followed up for 5 years, during which neither recurrence nor thyroid dysfunction was observed.Lessons ETT can occur within the carotid sheath even in the presence of a normally located thyroid gland. A distinct vascular supply may represent a useful imaging clue for its diagnosis. Further studies are warranted to investigate the potential embryological association among ETT, its vasculature, and adjacent lymphoid tissue during thyroid descent.
SN - 0304-5412
SN - 1536-5964
ER -