title: A 7.3×5.3×3.5-cm heterotopic thyroid in the posterior mediastinum in a patient with situs inversus totalis.
abstract: Ectopic posterior mediastinal thyroid is a very rare clinical disease entity. It accounts for less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors. The mass is difficult to diagnose due to its rarity and non-specific clinical symptoms and thus remains asymptomatic for many years until it becomes larger. Since the mass is considerably large at presentation, it should be distinguished from metastatic thyroid carcinoma. We present herein the case of a 62-year-old woman with situs inversus totalis who complained of atypical chest pain and dysphagia and had a huge posterior mediastinal ectopic thyroid. The patient underwent complete resection through thoracotomy, with relief of symptoms. In summary, although ectopic posterior mediastinal thyroid is a rare disease entity, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior mediastinal tumors. Surgery is the treatment of choice for posterior ectopic posterior thyroid and its prognosis is excellent following complete resection.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Surng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yo Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Song Am
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea ; 2 Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; 3 Department of Pediatrics, 4 Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Thyroid; mediastinum; situs inversus totalis