Abstract
A case of clear-cell follicular adenoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue is reported. The 2.0-cm tumor arose in the submandibular region in a 29-yr-old female. The diagnosis was established on the basis of light microscopic morphology, a positive thyroglobulin immunohistology, and the presence of normal thyroid tissue surrounding the mass. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan, and postoperative ultrasound studies revealed a normal orthotopic thyroid gland. No additional tumors have since been detected. The patient is free of recurrent or metastatic disease 54 mo following excision of the mass. Only eight previously published reports have described ectopic thyroid tissue in the submandibular region, all but one of which lacked an orthotopic thyroid gland. In this article, we describe the pathological features of our case and review the existing literature on the subject.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rosai J, Carcangiu M, DeLellis R. Tumors of the thyroid gland. In: Rosai J, Carcangiu M, DeLellis R, eds., AFIP atlas of tumor pathology. Tumors of the thyroid gland, 3rd ser., fasci. 5. Baltimore, MD: AFIP: 1992, pp. 317–319.
Helidonis E, Dokianaskis G, Pantazopoulos S, Thomopoulou H. Ectopic thyroid gland in the submandibular region. J Laryngol Otol 94:219–224, 1980.
Alsop JE, Yerbury PJ, O’Donnel PJ. Signetring call microfollicular adenoma arising in a nodular ectopic thyroid. A case report. J Oral Pathol 15:518,519, 1986.
Aguirre A, de la Piedra M, Ruiz R, Portilla J. Ectopic thyroid tissue in the submandibular region. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 71:73–76, 1991.
Stanek J, Busseniers AE. Fine needle aspiration diagnosis of ectopic thyroid. Diagn Cytopathol 1:59–62, 1993.
Morgan NJ, Emberton P, Barton RPE. The importance of thyroid scanning in neck lumps—a case report of ectopic tissue in the right submandibular region. J Laryngol Otol 109:674–676, 1995.
Sironi M, Assi A, Andruccioli M, Spreafico G. Submandibular ectopic thyroid gland. Clin Nuclear Med 21:585, 1996.
Sambola-Cabrer I, Fernandez-Real JM, Ricart W, Barbas JF, Olle M, Teruel J. Ectopic thyroid tissue presenting as a submandibular mass. Head Neck 18:87–90, 1996.
Hansen LT, Christensen PHS. Ectopic thyroid in the submandibular region. Ugeskr Laeger 58:3324,3325, 1996.
Myer CM III, Colton RT. Congenital thyroid and ectopic thyroid. In: Falk SA, ed. Thyroid disease: endocrinology surgery, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. New York., NY: Raven; 1990; pp. 381–388.
Carcangiu ML, Sibley RK, Rosai J. Clear cell change in primary thyroid tumors-a study of 38 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 9:705–722, 1985.
Bedrosian SA, Goldman RL, Dekelboum AM. Renal carcinoma presenting as a primary submandibular gland tumor. Oral Surg 58:699–701, 1984.
Cassidy M, Connolly CE. Clear cell carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland. J Laryngol Otol 108:529–532, 1994.
Grenko R, Anderson K, Kauffman G, Abr A. Water clear cell adenoma of the parathyroid—a case report with immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 119:1072–1074. 1995.
Ishimura Y, Fukuda S, Kurano R, Miura K, Tajiri J, Maeda K. Follicular thyroid carcinoma with clear cell change showing unusual ultrastructural features. Am J Surg Pathol 12:240–245, 1988.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Giri, D., Humayun Gultekin, S., Ward, R.F. et al. Clear-cell follicular adenoma of ectopic thyroid in the submandibular region. Endocr Pathol 9, 347–351 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02739695
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02739695