This 77-year-old woman presented with a mass at the back of her tongue. Thyroid 99mTc pertechnetate imaging shows this to be a source of high uptake. Relatively reduced uptake is seen in the normal thyroid position. Thyroid scanning is an important method for evaluating lumps at the back of the tongue and in the centre of the neck. If there is a doubt about pertechnetate uptake, which vascular lesions can mimic, then 123I should be used. A typical thyroglossal cyst is non-functional on a thyroid scan.
