Severe trachea compression caused by Riedel's thyroiditis: A case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Riedel's thyroiditis (RT) is a rare form of chronic thyroiditis, associated with fibroinflammatory process involving the thyroid and surrounding cervical tissues, leading to compressive symptoms.


METHODS
We present a case of RT in a 73-year-old female with dyspnoea caused by severe trachea compression. She had reported dyspnoea during physical stress, and had noticed a large mass on the front of the neck. Despite the combination of various imaging modalities, the thyroid mass was not differentiated from thyroid malignancy and other thyroid disorder. Total thyroidectomy and tracheotomy were performed. During surgery, the thyroid had severe adhesion to surrounding tissue and the pathology revealed RT.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should be aware of RT. It is important to differentiate this condition from other thyroid disorders, especially malignant lesions. Thyroidectomy is indicated for patients with compressive symptoms, suspicious malignancy and failure of conservative management.
Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Clinical College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Hebei Medical University, Cangzhou 061000, China.
Ren
R
Chong Xi
Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Clinical College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Hebei Medical University, Cangzhou 061000, China.
Wang
W
Hong Qiao
Pathology Department, Cangzhou Clinical College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Hebei Medical University, Cangzhou 061000, China.
Liu
L
Yan
Case report; Compressive symptoms; Riedel's thyroiditis; Thyroid mass; Thyroidectomy