title: Airway obstruction secondary to large thyroid adenolipoma.
abstract: Adenolipoma of the thyroid gland is a rare benign neoplasm composed of normal thyroid and mature adipose tissue. Ordinarily, only a small amount of fat exists in a normal thyroid gland. CT and MRI may differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, and fine-needle aspirate often assists diagnosis. Surgical excision for adenolipoma is considered curative. We report the case of a 67-year-old man presenting with a large neck lump and evidence of airway obstruction. Imaging revealed a 97 × 70 mm left thyroid mass with retropharyngeal extension and laryngotracheal compression. Hemithyroidectomy was performed with subsequent histology confirming a large thyroid adenolipoma. The patient's symptoms resolved and he remains asymptomatic with no sign of recurrence 2 years postsurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: Ear Science Centre, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paras
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Ear Science Centre, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinton-Bayre
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy