A 63 year old male who was found to have papillary thyroid cancer on the FNA of a cold thyroid nodule, presented post thyroidectomy for remnant ablation. Pre-treatment I-131 scan showed focal uptake in the thyroid bed consistent with thyroid remnant and a focus of uptake superior to the thyroid remnant in the midline neck.

SPECT-CT localized this focus of uptake to the base of the tongue, in the region of foramen cecum, consistent with a thyroglossal duct remnant.

Remnant ablation was preformed with 100 mCi of I-131 and was well tolerated.

A one year follow up I-131 whole body scan showed the resolution of the thyroid remnant and thyroglossal duct remnant.

1. Zanotti-Fregonara P, Hindié E, Keller I, Calzada-Nocaudie M, Devaux JY. Scintigraphic visualization of glossal thyroid tissue during the follow-up of thyroid cancer patients. Clin Nucl Med. 2007 Dec;32(12):911-4.

2. Rao PN, Pandit N, Kumar R, Upadhya IV, Vidya Sagar MS. Ectopic functioning thyroid tissue in the thyroglossal duct detected by radionuclide imaging. Clin Nucl Med. 2005 Sep;30(9):630.

This case was compiled by Dr. David He, BCM