Ectopic lingual thyroid with vascular anomalies.

Background Lingual thyroid represents 90% of ectopic thyroid tissue localizations. The first case was described by Hickman in 1869. An ectopic thyroid is often asymptomatic, but pathological or physiological conditions inducing hyperproduction of thyroid-stimulating hormone can lead an ectopic thyroid to become symptomatic. Treatment of the symptomatic ectopic thyroid can be medical, with hormone-suppressing therapy, or surgical.