Primary intrathoracic goiter.
Nodular goiter is a common disease in Taiwan, and substernal or intrathoracic goiters are not infrequent. However, intrathoracic goiters are mainly of the secondary type and primary intrathoracic goiters are rarely seen. We report a 55-year-old woman who was incidentally found to have an ectopic goiter located in the anterior upper mediastinum with the initial presenting symptom of productive cough. Imaging studies including chest X-ray and computed tomography identified the lesion, and 131I-uptake scan showed weak uptake in the thorax. Surgical removal via thoracotomy was performed and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology. A primary intrathoracic goiter, although rare, should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumor.
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Ming-Hsun
MH
Wu
Kuen-Yuan
KY
Chen
Koung-Yi
KY
Liaw
Tien-Shan
TS
Huang
Po-Huang
PH
Lee
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D013908:Thoracotomy