Thyroid gland rupture: a rare case of respiratory distress.
BACKGROUND
Rupture of a normal thyroid gland after blunt cervical trauma is a rare case of airway compression. This case report describes the case of a 79-year-old woman who developed severe respiratory distress after a bicycle crash.


METHODS
Presenting about 2 h after the crash, the patient noted cervical swelling and increasing dyspnea. The diagnosis of thyroid gland rupture was made with a combination of computed tomography scan, cervical radiography, and bronchoscopy. Invasive airway management was required in the first few hours after the crash. The patient underwent a left hemithyroidectomy, and recovered without complications.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report highlights the fact that thyroid gland rupture can be a threatening complication of blunt cervical trauma.
Ahrens
Jörg
J
Department of Anesthesiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Jüttner
Björn
B
Heidt
Sabine
S
Scheinichen
Dirk
D
Przemeck
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D058109:Airway Management; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012421:Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*