Abstract: Science Set Journal of Cancer Research

Abstract:
Lingual thyroid is a rare developmental anomaly in which ectopic thyroid tissue is located at the base of the tongue. While often asymptomatic, it can cause airway obstruction, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Management becomes partic ularly complex when associated with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), which limits surgical access. We report the case of a 45-year-old female with progressive voice change, foreign body sensation, and trismus. Imaging revealed a hy perdense lesion at the tongue base with absence of cervical thyroid tissue. Fine-needle aspiration cytology confirmed ectopic thyroid tissue. Due to severe trismus from OSF, conventional trans-oral approaches were not feasible. The patient underwent labio-mandibular glossotomy with complete excision of the lingual thyroid, followed by lifelong levothyroxine supplementation. This case highlights the clinical challenges in managing lingual thyroid complicated by OSF and demonstrates the relevance of revisiting older surgical techniques when modern minimally invasive approaches are impractical.