Kosin Med J.  2011 Jun;26(1):89-92.

A Case of Mediastinal Ectopic Thyroid Tissue Diagnosed by Endobronchial Ultrasound Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

• Park SJ
• Lee SJ
• Shim IK
• Jang TW
• Chun BK

Abstract

A 77-year old woman was referred to hospital with dyspnea and chest dull pain for 5 months. The chest radiograph showed a mass located in the mediastinum. Trachea was deviated to right side. Chest computed tomography showed an enhancing large mass at the middle mediastinum. Endobronchial ultrasonography showed hyperechoic mediastinal mass. We performed endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Histologic finding was thyroid tissue with a benign looking papilla. Ectopic thyroid is an uncommon embryological aberration characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue in a site other than in its usual pretracheal region. It occurs along the path of descent of the developing thyroid primodium from the foramen cecum. It is extremely rare for mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue diagnosised by EBUS-TBNA, so we report here on a case of mediastinal ectopic thyroid and we review the relevant medical literature.

Keyword

Bronchoscopy; Mediastinal Neoplasms; Needle Biopsy; Thyroid Dysgenesis; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Needle
Bronchoscopy
Cecum
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Mediastinal Neoplasms
Mediastinum
Needles
Thorax
Thyroid Dysgenesis
Thyroid Gland
Trachea