Ectopic thyroid: A rare cause of tracheal obstruction

Abstract

The endoluminal presence of thyroid tissue in the trachea is a rare cause of airway obstruction. Only 14 well documented cases of intratracheal ectopic thyroid tissue have been reported in English Literature since 1966. These lesions are mostly benign and nearly all patients present with symptoms of respiratory obstruction. We present a case of ectopic thyroid in cervical trachea presenting with symptoms of airway obstruction. Thorough clinical examination and investigations were carried out. A right hemithyroidectomy and excision of a part of the tracheal wall through a tracheotomy was performed for removal of the ectopic thyroid tissue from trachea. The clinicians & radiologists must be aware of this entity to avoid mistaking it for evidence of invasion by a malignant neoplas, and hence this report.