Ectopic intratracheal thyroid causing airway obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid ectopia can be found at the site of thyroid origin in the floor of the mouth, or anywhere along its path of embryological descent, thus reflecting the normal migration of thyroid progenitor cells. The most frequent sites of ectopic thyroid tissue are lingual, sublingual, thyroglossal and laryngotracheal, with ectopic intratracheal thyroid (EITT) accounting for a small minority of these cases. EITT represents approximately 1% of all primary endotracheal tumors (1). First noted by Ziemssen in 1875, there have been at least 130 cases of EITT described (2). Most cases have been reported from the endemic goiter regions of the world, and commonly detected in the third to fifth decades of life (3,4). Approximately 75% of EITT are associated with orthotopic goiters (3,4).