Intratracheal Ectopic Thyroid Tissue: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

We discuss a case of intratracheal ectopic thyroid tissue (Err) that was retrieved fro m the fi les of the Otorhinolaryngic-Head and Neck Pathology Registry at theArmed. Forces Institute of Pathology. The patient was a 54-yearold man who had a history of pap illary thyroid carcinoma, which had been treated with a subtotal thyroidectomy. During routinef ollow-up 4 years later, the pati ent 's primary care physician detected an elevated thyroglobulin level. Further ref errals and evaluations revealed that the patient had intratracheal Err. The patient refused to undergo surgical excis ion and remains without evidence ofrecurrent carcinoma. In a MEDLINE literature review, we f ound only 13 other well-documented cases of intratracheal Errsince 1966; in all but two cases, patients had benign disease. Once the possibility of thyroid carcinoma has been eliminated by histologic examination, intratra cheal Err can be managed by complete surgical excision with the prospect of an exce llent long-term clinical outcome.

Ectopic Intratracheal Thyroid: An Illustrative Case Report and Literature Review

“…Most patients with a lingual thyroid have no other source of functioning thyroid tissue (11,12,27). Ectopic intratracheal thyroid (EITT), however, appears to present differently, typically coexisting with an orthotopic gland (14,28,29). We present a patient with an EITT, a normally located thyroid, and a high arched palate.…”

Multinodular goitre arising in the tracheal lumen: implantation or ectopic?

“…11 Neoplastic change within endotracheal ectopic thyroid tissue remains rare, and represents less than 1 per cent of all primary endotracheal tumours. 9 In this case report, the thyroid tissue was probably directly implanted into the tracheal lumen during the patient's initial treatment for follicular adenoma. While details of that surgical procedure were not available, implantation probably occurred either during surgery or during subsequent seroma aspirations.…”

“…9,11,[13][14][15] These patients presented four to 21 years after their original thyroid surgery, with dyspnoea or stridor. The tissue was resected or biopsied in all cases, and found to contain benign thyroid tissue.…”

“…Ectopic thyroid tissue size is thought to be related to a number of factors, including diet, hormone levels and previous total thyroidectomy. 9 There is a higher incidence among females. 10 Ectopic tissue can remain subclinical for years; 11 patients normally present between the ages of 20 and 50 years 10 with stridor, cough, dyspnoea or hoarseness.…”

“…10 Ectopic tissue can remain subclinical for years; 11 patients normally present between the ages of 20 and 50 years 10 with stridor, cough, dyspnoea or hoarseness. 9 The majority of ectopic thyroid specimens are benign or display adenomatous change. However, malignant change can occur in up to 11 per cent of cases, 11 most commonly papillary carcinoma.…”