Etiology • Failure of thyroid primordium to descend from foramen cecum
into anterior neck
Clinical Presentation • Midline mass at foramen cecum area • Dark, well vascularized • May interfere with swallowing and breathing in infancy • Bleeding may occur.
Diagnosis • Clinical appearance, location • Demonstration of activity with radionuclide scan (technetium
99m) • Confirmation of presence of cervical thyroid
Differential Diagnosis • Thyroglossal duct cyst • Squamous cell carcinoma • Lymphoma
into anterior neck
Clinical Presentation • Midline mass at foramen cecum area • Dark, well vascularized • May interfere with swallowing and breathing in infancy • Bleeding may occur.
Diagnosis • Clinical appearance, location • Demonstration of activity with radionuclide scan (technetium
99m) • Confirmation of presence of cervical thyroid
Differential Diagnosis • Thyroglossal duct cyst • Squamous cell carcinoma • Lymphoma
Treatment • Removal if functional thyroid is present in usual location • Move/transplant to alternative site if other thyroid tissue does
not exist
Prognosis • Excellent