Background: The mediastinal ectopic thyroid is very rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of ectopic thyroid tissue. The differential diagnoses with other diseases such as lymphomas, thymic tumors and dermoid cysts is mandatory, in fact each one, needs different management and treatment. Case presentation: Here, we discuss a rare case of mediastinal ectopic thyroid presenting with a paratracheal mass laying on the right bronchus without symptoms. A 63-year-old male presented with an abnormal well-defined mass along the right paratracheal side, detected by chest x-ray. The CT scan confirmed the presence of a 6 × 8 cm heterogeneously enhanced mass, located behind the superior vena cava and left brachiocephalic artery, reaching azygos vein and right bronchus, without a mass effect. Taking into account the clinical importance of a mediastinal mass, we removed it surgically, through a double surgical approach consisting in a classical transverse cervicotomy for the left thyroid lobe, followed then by a longitudinal sternal splitting to remove the mediastinal mass and complete the thyroidectomy. Conclusions: In case of mediastinal masses, the surgical excision is recommended, presenting the double advantage to clarify the diagnosis and to treat the pathology. As demonstrated in this case, a mediastinal ectopic thyroid should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis, considering its clinical importance.

Diagnosis and management of a mediastinal ectopic thyroid laying on the right bronchus. Case report and review of literature / Metere, Alessio; De Giacomo, Tiziano; Vergine, Massimo; Biffoni, Marco; Giacomelli, Laura. - In: BMC SURGERY. - ISSN 1471-2482. - 18:1(2018), pp. 1-5. [10.1186/s12893-018-0354-y]

Diagnosis and management of a mediastinal ectopic thyroid laying on the right bronchus. Case report and review of literature

Alessio Metere
;
Tiziano De Giacomo;Massimo Vergine;Marco Biffoni;Laura Giacomelli
2018

Abstract

Background: The mediastinal ectopic thyroid is very rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of ectopic thyroid tissue. The differential diagnoses with other diseases such as lymphomas, thymic tumors and dermoid cysts is mandatory, in fact each one, needs different management and treatment. Case presentation: Here, we discuss a rare case of mediastinal ectopic thyroid presenting with a paratracheal mass laying on the right bronchus without symptoms. A 63-year-old male presented with an abnormal well-defined mass along the right paratracheal side, detected by chest x-ray. The CT scan confirmed the presence of a 6 × 8 cm heterogeneously enhanced mass, located behind the superior vena cava and left brachiocephalic artery, reaching azygos vein and right bronchus, without a mass effect. Taking into account the clinical importance of a mediastinal mass, we removed it surgically, through a double surgical approach consisting in a classical transverse cervicotomy for the left thyroid lobe, followed then by a longitudinal sternal splitting to remove the mediastinal mass and complete the thyroidectomy. Conclusions: In case of mediastinal masses, the surgical excision is recommended, presenting the double advantage to clarify the diagnosis and to treat the pathology. As demonstrated in this case, a mediastinal ectopic thyroid should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis, considering its clinical importance.
2018
Ectopic thyroid, Mediastinal thyroid, Mediastinal mass
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01g Articolo di rassegna (Review)
Diagnosis and management of a mediastinal ectopic thyroid laying on the right bronchus. Case report and review of literature / Metere, Alessio; De Giacomo, Tiziano; Vergine, Massimo; Biffoni, Marco; Giacomelli, Laura. - In: BMC SURGERY. - ISSN 1471-2482. - 18:1(2018), pp. 1-5. [10.1186/s12893-018-0354-y]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1101615
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