OBJECTIVE: Ectopic thyroid gland is a rare occurrence with a prevalence of 1 per 100,000 to 300,000 people. Hashimoto's thyroiditis involving ectopic thyroid tissue is particularly unusual. We describe the presentation, workup, surgical management, and brief review of the literature. METHODS: Retroactive review of an 83-year-old white female patient record. As a case report, this project was exempt from institutional review board approval. RESULTS: We present a case of ectopic thyroid tissue located in the strap muscles with concurrent Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This tissue initially was believed to represent metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Whenever ectopic thyroid tissue is encountered, the gravest concern is metastatic thyroid cancer. The possibility of benign thyroid tissue should not be excluded even if the thyroid histology initially appears to be malignant in nature.
OBJECTIVE: Ectopic thyroid gland is a rare occurrence with a prevalence of 1 per 100,000 to 300,000 people. Hashimoto's thyroiditis involving ectopic thyroid tissue is particularly unusual. We describe the presentation, workup, surgical management, and brief review of the literature. METHODS: Retroactive review of an 83-year-old white female patient record. As a case report, this project was exempt from institutional review board approval. RESULTS: We present a case of ectopic thyroid tissue located in the strap muscles with concurrent Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This tissue initially was believed to represent metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Whenever ectopic thyroid tissue is encountered, the gravest concern is metastatic thyroid cancer. The possibility of benign thyroid tissue should not be excluded even if the thyroid histology initially appears to be malignant in nature.