Lingual Thyroid Treatment in India
About Lingual Thyroid
Key Highlights
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Addresses a rare congenital anomaly causing symptoms at the tongue base.Endocrinologist-led care ensures comprehensive hormonal evaluation and management.Conservative management is often successful, avoiding surgery.Surgical intervention, when necessary, can relieve airway obstruction and swallowing difficulties.Lifelong thyroid function monitoring prevents complications like hypothyroidism.
Who is this surgery for?
- Presence of symptomatic mass at the base of the tongue causing airway obstruction.
- Significant difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or speaking.
- Recurrent bleeding or ulceration from the lingual thyroid tissue.
- Suspicion of malignancy (very rare) within the ectopic tissue.
- Failure of conservative management with persistent or worsening symptoms.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive evaluation by an endocrinologist including thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4).
- Imaging studies such as a thyroid scan (radioactive iodine uptake) and ultrasound to confirm diagnosis and locate any normal thyroid tissue.
- CT or MRI scan of the neck and tongue base to assess the size and exact location of the mass.
- Consultation with an otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon) if surgery is planned.
- Possible fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy to rule out cancer.
- Initiation of thyroid hormone replacement therapy if hypothyroid, often before any procedure.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, infection, or pain at the surgical site (if surgery is performed).
- Damage to surrounding structures in the mouth and throat.
- Permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong hormone replacement, especially if no normal thyroid tissue exists.
- Airway complications or swelling post-procedure.
- Changes in voice or taste.
- Recurrence of the tissue or need for further procedures.
- Risks associated with general anesthesia.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Post-surgery, initial recovery in the hospital focuses on managing pain, ensuring a clear airway, and monitoring swallowing.
- A soft or liquid diet may be required for several days to weeks.
- Strict adherence to prescribed thyroid hormone medication is critical.
- Follow-up with both the endocrinologist and surgeon to monitor healing and thyroid function.
- Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for the recommended period.
- Watch for signs of infection, bleeding, or breathing difficulties and report them immediately.
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Typical hospital stay:
2-5 days
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Expected recovery time:
2-4 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering lingual thyroid in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with endocrinology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform lingual thyroid. MediFyr helps you compare endocrinologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for lingual thyroid compare across other countries where we have data.
Aarav Khan, a 16-year-old high school...
Aarav Khan, a 16-year-old high school student and aspiring cricketer, had always been a quiet, slightly withdrawn boy. For over a year, he struggled with constant fatigue, a hoarse voice that cracked during speech, and a noticeable lump at the back of his tongue that made swallowing uncomfortable. His grades slipped as he found it hard to concentrate. After multiple visits to his GP for recurrent 'sore throats,' a persistent ENT specialist, suspecting more, ordered an ultrasound and a thyroid scan. The scan revealed the shocking truth: Aarav had a lingual thyroid, his entire thyroid gland was located at the base of his tongue, with no thyroid tissue in his neck. The endocrinologist, Dr. Sharma, explained that this rare congenital condition was now causing obstructive symptoms and hypothyroidism. She recommended a course of levothyroxine hormone replacement to treat the hypothyroidism and potentially shrink the tissue, avoiding surgery if possible. Aarav was terrified; the lump felt like a strange, alien part of him. Starting medication brought immense relief, his energy returned, his voice cleared, and the lump reduced significantly. Within months, he was back on the cricket field, his confidence restored. The emotional journey was from feeling like a 'freak' with a mysterious illness to understanding his unique anatomy. He now sees it not as a defect, but simply how he was built, managed with a daily pill that lets him live fully.
Endocrinologists for Lingual Thyroid
Explore experienced endocrinologists who regularly perform lingual thyroid and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 18 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 5 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 50 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 15 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 30 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 13 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 8 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata
- 16 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur, Bangalore
- 3 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Kanakapura Road, Bangalore
- 33 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 29 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 12 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
- 12 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 27 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 7 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 18 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 20 Years Experience
- Endocrinologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata