Abstract
Carcinoma arising from an ectopic thyroid gland in the absence of a normal thyroid
gland is uncommon. There is a clinically relevant and unique association of ectopic
thyroid with congenital heart disease which in turn is related to thyroid embryogenesis.
The median thyroid anlage develops adjacent to the newly differentiated myocardium
during the 3rd week of intrauterine life. The downward pull exerted by continued descent
of heart is postulated to assist in the descent of the thyroid to its final location
in the lower cervical position. Ectopic thyroid tissue can result from abnormal heart
development or abnormal interaction between thyroid primordium and heart. We present
a rare association of cancer of the ectopic thyroid gland in a patient with congenital
heart disease.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 11,
2012
Received in revised form:
October 8,
2012
Received:
July 21,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.