# Unilateral Thyroid Hypoplasia in a Euthyroid Adult: A Rare Congenital Anomaly

**Authors:** Neha Butt, Atba Ausama Khan, Daayl N Mirza

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.94437 · Cureus · 2025-10-13

## TL;DR

A 22-year-old woman with normal thyroid function was found to have a rare congenital condition called unilateral thyroid hypoplasia.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare case of unilateral thyroid hypoplasia in an asymptomatic euthyroid adult.

## Key findings

- The patient had a hypoplastic left thyroid lobe confirmed via ultrasound and isotope scan.
- Thyroid function tests were normal despite the anatomical anomaly.

## Abstract

Thyroid hypoplasia is described as a rare congenital anomaly. It is characterized by incomplete development of thyroid tissue, which can be differentiated from thyroid hemiagenesis, where a lobe is completely absent. These cases mostly present asymptomatically and are often found when imaged for unrelated conditions.

In this report, we present a case of a 22-year-old euthyroid female who was incidentally discovered to have a hypoplastic left thyroid lobe during ultrasonography. After undergoing further investigations, the thyroid functioning tests were within a normal range (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.751 mIU/L, triiodothyronine (T3) 1.99 pg/mL, thyroxine (T4) 8.21 µg/dL). In addition, an isotope thyroid scan was done, confirming no functioning tissue in the hypoplastic lobe.

This case study underlines the significance of differentiating between thyroid hemiagenesis and hypoplasia. In addition, it also highlights the importance of long-term follow-up for assessment of associated thyroid pathologies.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** thyroid hypoplasia (MONDO:0019861)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** thyroid pathologies (MESH:D013959), Thyroid Hypoplasia (MESH:C566852), thyroid hemiagenesis (MESH:D013966), hypoplasia (MESH:D000080344), Congenital Anomaly (MESH:D000013), hypoplastic left thyroid lobe (MESH:D018636)
- **Chemicals:** T3 (MESH:D014284), T4 (MESH:D013974)

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12605667/full.md

## References

14 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12605667/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12605667