Lost and found: a thyroid tale of tissues gone rogue

Kassi Nada Ait; Hairchi Sara; Habbadi Zineb; Fatima Toulali; Ghizlane Sabbar; Kaoutar Rifai; Hinde Iraqi; Hassan Gharbi Mohamed El

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP1537

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP1537 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP1537

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Thyroid (198 abstracts)

Lost and found: a thyroid tale of tissues gone rogue

Nada Ait Kassi ¹ , Hairchi Sara ¹ , Habbadi Zineb ¹ , Fatima Toulali ¹ , Ghizlane Sabbar ¹ , Kaoutar Rifai ¹ , Hinde Iraqi ¹ & Mohamed El Hassan Gharbi ¹

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¹Ibn Sina Hospital Mohamed V University, Endocrinology, Rabat, Morocco

JOINT35

Background: Thyrotoxicosis following subtotal thyroidectomy is an uncommon occurrence. In rare cases, ectopic thyroid tissue may be the source of hyperthyroidism, particularly in the mediastinum. This report discusses an unusual presentation of hyperthyroidism many years post-surgery due to an ectopic thyroid tissue in the anterior mediastinum.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 61-year-old female patient with a history of subtotal thyroidectomy in 2000, during which the upper left thyroid pole was preserved. The surgery was complicated by hypoparathyroidism. Years later, the patient developed both clinical and biochemical hyperthyroidism. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed an area of intense, heterogeneous uptake in the upper and middle mediastinum, suggesting a plunging goiter component. A subsequent thoracic CT scan showed a lesion in the anterior mediastinum, with imaging characteristics consistent with ectopic thyroid tissue. The patient underwent surgical resection via sternotomy performed by the thoracic surgery team. Histopathological analysis confirmed the benign nature of the lesion.

Conclusions: This case emphasizes the need for clinicians to consider ectopic thyroid tissue as a potential source of hyperthyroidism, even in patients with previous thyroidectomy. Detection of ectopic thyroid tissue in the mediastinum underscores the importance of thorough imaging and surgical assessment when managing recurrent thyroid symptoms in post-thyroidectomy patients.