ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid gland (ETG) so as to reduce the misdiagnosis and improper treatment. MethodsAccording to the patients who were definitely diagnosed ETG by pathology from 2002 to 2010 in our hospital, their clinical and pathological data were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsThere were 14 patients, 4 cases of male and 10 cases of female. Five patients had clinical symptoms. Eight cases were diagnosed before operation and six cases were diagnosed by pathology after operation. There were 4 cases were malignancy and 10 were benign. Three cases of differentiated ectopic thyroid carcinoma patients and 1 normal position's thyroid had papillary carcinoma patient accepted TSH suppression treatment after operation, 4 benign patients and 1 ectopic thyroid medullary carcinoma patient accepted levothyroxine substitution treatment after operation, and the other 5 benign patients did not accept any treatment after operation. Nine patients who accepted follow-up in 1-10 years had orthobiosis, and the malignancy patients without recurrence and metastasis. ConclusionsETG usually reveal no any special clinical features. For any masses from root of tongue to mediastinum, especially cervical masses, should be carefully check whether there are thyroid in normal position, and to exclude ETG. The color Doppler ultrasound, thyroid radioactive scanning, thyroid function tests, computed tomography, and fine needle aspiration cytology are all important examination measures. Due to the ETG may occur the same lesions as the normal position's thyroid, so once it is be definitly diagnosed, the treatment should be based on patient's age, position, size, and type of ETG, and nature of the lesions to select follow-up observation, operative treatment, levothyroxine replacement or therapeutic inhibition of TSH, and 131I therapy.