Multinodular goitre arising in the tracheal lumen: implantation or ectopic?
OBJECTIVE
We report a case of multinodular goitre arising in thyroid tissue within the trachea. This tissue appears to have been implanted at the time of an earlier subtotal thyroidectomy.


METHODS
A 79-year-old woman presented with a 12-month history of dyspnoea. Forty years earlier, she had been treated for a follicular adenoma with subtotal thyroidectomy. Investigation revealed tumour in the region of the right lobe of the thyroid, extending into and narrowing the trachea. A biopsy was performed, and the patient underwent excision of the right thyroid lobe tumour and cricotracheal resection with anastomosis. Histopathological findings were consistent with a multinodular goitre arising in thyroid tissue within the tracheal lumen.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-operative thyroid tissue implantation in the trachea and subsequent goitre development has not previously been described. This case illustrates the need for careful resection of the thyroid in order to maintain the integrity of normal anatomical structures.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Christchurch Public Hospital, New Zealand. rsalter@clear.net.nz
R L
RL
Love
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Ahsan
R
R
Allison
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A
Keast
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Lambie
D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D049291:Seroma / Q000601:surgery; D050033:Thyroid Dysgenesis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy