[Diagnosis and therapy of thyroid tissue of the base of the tongue].

Lingual thyroid tissue is the most frequent ectopic location of the thyroid gland, although its clinical incidence is low with 1 in 100,000 cases occurring. We describe a 25-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia due to lingual thyroid tissue. Suppressive hormone therapy did not have a significant effect. Surgical therapy was used when obstructive symptoms increased. The lingual thyroid was resected partially while the remaining gland was transposed into a lateral submental region. Diagnostic procedures using such imaging techniques as scintigraphy, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and therapeutic options are discussed.