DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i03.013

Pages: 203-208

Lingual thyroid is a rare endocrine anamoly presenting incidentally in most of the cases. Literature is very scarce on the comprehensive management of lingual thyroid. This prospective study was conducted in the Endocrine and Metabolic surgery department of a tertiary care hospital in South India. The cohort included 17 cases of LT managed between July 2012 to June 2015 (36 months) in our department. Proforma based documentation of clinico-pathological, radiological and a management detail was performed. The average age of the cohort was 13.6 ± 5.7 years (6 - 27). The follow-up duration was 21.5±7.2 months (12- 36). Functionally, 47 % of patients were euthyroid at presentation and rest were hypothyroid. 6/17 (35%) required surgical excision due to severe symptoms. 2/3rd patients were placed on conservative management with Thyroxine replacement for hypothyroid subjects. LT is a rare endocrine anamoly with surgical excision indicated only in severely symptomatic cases. Institutional Algorithm based management is recommended in LT.