Published online May 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i14.3432
Peer-review started: December 4, 2020
First decision: December 21, 2020
Revised: January 5, 2021
Accepted: February 22, 2021
Article in press: February 22, 2021
Published online: May 16, 2021
Ectopic thyroid is defined as a rare developmental anomaly where thyroid tissues are atypically found in locations other than its normal anatomical position: Anterolateral to the second, third, and fourth tracheal cartilages. An intemperate descent or a migration failure of the thyroid anlage results in sub-diaphragmatic thyroid ectopia, a sparse clinical entity.
This case portrays a 63-year-old female patient presenting with chronic abdominal discomfort at a local hospital whereby a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a well-defined mass in the hepatic entrance. For further examination, the patient underwent a CT scan with contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CT-angiography (CTA) at our department. The CT scan showed a well-defined and high attenuated mass measuring 43 mm × 38 mm in the hepatic entrance with calcification. The CTA revealed an additional finding: Blood supply to the mass from the right hepatic artery. MRI of the upper abdomen demonstr
This case delivers a rare insight of pre-operative radiological imaging of an ectopic thyroid located in the liver. These findings can aid in narrowing down potential differential diagnosis when managing a patient with those subsequent findings.
Core Tip: Thyroid ectopia specifically at the porta hepatis level is quite a rare clinical entity without any conclusive protocol for radiological diagnosis. This paper reviews the limited corresponding literature as well as the presentation of a clinical case in order to help physicians alongside radiologists to minimize misinterpretations and misdiagnosis of ectopic thyroid. This paper will hopefully contribute to the spectrum of information by portraying computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography angiography, and histopathology amongst a plethora of other data that will contribute in the optimization of the prevalence in conjunction with the management of thyroid ectopia.