Lingual thyroid--a threat to the airway.
The occurrence of a thyroid gland superficially placed on the pharyngeal portion of the tongue is rare, but poses problems to the patient and anaesthetist. This report describes a patient with a lingual thyroid and a history of problems associated with it that resulted in admission to the ICU and warnings about future intubation of the larynx. The patient underwent awake tracheal intubation using a standard fibreoptic assisted technique, and was advised that she purchase an appropriate Medic-Alert bracelet.
Buckland
R W
RW
Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DG, UK.
Pedley
J
J
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000150:complications*