Mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue: Diagnosis and management of a rare pathology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23938/ASSN.1128Keywords:
Goiter, Substernal, Goiter, Nodular, Thyroid Diseases, Thoracic Surgery, Video-AssistedAbstract
Intrathoracic goiters can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary intrathoracic goiters are characterized by the absence of any anatomical connection with the cervical thyroid gland, in contrast to secondary intrathoracic goiters. A rare variant, termed mixed or combined intrathoracic goiter, involves the synchronous presence of both primary and secondary components within the thoracic cavity.
Given the rarity and the diagnostic challenges associated with these conditions, we report the case of a patient who presented with a multinodular goiter and a separate right paratracheal mediastinal mass. The latter was identified as ectopic thyroid tissue, consistent with a primary intrathoracic goiter. We describe the diagnostic approach used to differentiate the mediastinal mass from other thoracic pathologies, as well as the successful surgical management performed via a minimally invasive technique and facilitated a rapid and uneventful postoperative recovery.
Downloads
References
1. Tsilimigras DI, Patrini D, Antonopoulou A, Velissaris D, Koletsis E, Lawrence D et al. Retrosternal goitre: the role of the thoracic surgeon. J Thorac Dis 2017;9(3):860-863. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.02.56
2. Unlu MT, Aygun N, Kostek M, Isgor A, Uludag M. Substernal Goiter: From Definitions to Treatment. Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul 2022;56(2):167-176. doi:10.14744/SEMB.2022.30806
3. Di Crescenzo V, Vitale M, Valvano L, Napolitano F, Vatrella A, Zeppa P et al. Surgical management of cervico-mediastinal goiters: Our experience and review of the literature. Int J Surg 2016;28(Suppl 1): S47-S53. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.12.048
4. Uludag M, Isgor A, Yetkin G, Citgez B. Ectopic mediastinal thyroid tissue: cervical or mediastinum originated?. BMJ Case Rep 2009; 2009: bcr09.2008.1004. doi:10.1136/bcr.09.2008.100
5. Motlaghzadeh Y, Nesbit S, Guo HH, Yang E, Desai K, Lui NS. Surgical resection of mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue: a case series. J Thorac Dis. 2023;15(3):1473-1481. doi:10.21037/jtd-22-479
6. Walz PC, Iwenofu OH, Essig GF. Ectopic mediastinal goiter successfully managed via cervical approach: case report and review of the literature. Head Neck. 2013; 35(3): e94-e97. doi:10.1002/hed.21920
7. Sadidi H, Mehri A, Rezaei R. An accessory mediastinal thyroid: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11(4): e7232.. doi:10.1002/ccr3.7232
8. de Aguiar-Quevedo K, Cerón-Navarro J, Jordá-Aragón C, Pastor-Martínez E, Sales-Badia JG, García-Zarza A et al. Bocio intratorácico. Revisión de la literatura. Cir Esp 2010; 88(3): 142-145. doi:10.1016/j.ciresp.2010.03.020
9. Kardi A, Oueslati I, Yazidi M, Sadok Boudaya M, Znaidi N, Chihaoui M. Hyperthyroidism secondary to a primary mediastinal goiter with normal functional cervical thyroid gland. Clin Case Rep 2021; 9(12): e05167. doi:10.1002/ccr3.5167
10. Noussios G, Anagnostis P, Goulis DG, Lappas D, Natsis K. Ectopic thyroid tissue: anatomical, clinical, and surgical implications of a rare entity. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011;165(3):375-382. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0461
11. Arango Tomás E, Baamonde Laborda C, Algar Algar FJ, Salvatierra Velázquez Á. Single-port thoracoscopic access for a mediastinal ectopic goiter. Cir Esp. 2015;93(4):264-266. doi:10.1016/j.ciresp.2013.02.013
12. Luzzi L, De Leonibus L, Corzani R, Ghisalberti M, Iemma D, Ambrosini CE et al. Robotic resection of mediastinal goiter and ectopic thyroid. Shanghai Chest 2018; 2: 94. doi: 10.21037/shc.2018.11.10
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
La revista Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra es publicada por el Departamento de Salud del Gobierno de Navarra (España), quien conserva los derechos patrimoniales (copyright ) sobre el artículo publicado y favorece y permite la difusión del mismo bajo licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-SA 4.0). Esta licencia permite copiar, usar, difundir, transmitir y exponer públicamente el artículo, siempre que siempre que se cite la autoría y la publicación inicial en Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra, y se distinga la existencia de esta licencia de uso.
