Ectopic Intrapulmonary Thyroid: A Case Report
A 64-year-old female was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2004 and was treated by thyroidectomy. During follow-up, blood free T4 levels were increased and an I-131 whole body scan was performed. The results showed hot uptake at the left mediastinum (). Additional chest computed tomography (CT) showed a 1.2-cm-long nodule at the left lower lobe, which matched the location in the I-131 scan results (). A thoracoscopic approach was first attempted, but failed due to adhesion of left upper lobe. Thus, a thoracotomy was performed. A 1-cm-long nodule surrounded by pulmonary tissue was observed next to the inferior pulmonary vein. A blood vessel branching off from the pulmonary vein and going through the nodule was also observed. The blood vessel was ligated, excised, and isolated from the inferior pulmonary vein. EndoGIA (Covidien, Mansfield, USA) was then used for wedge resection of the nodule (). Postoperative histological findings reported a 1×1 cm nodule attached to the lung (). It was identified as ectopic thyroid tissue, but it was not observed to be malignant (). The patient's chest tube was removed on day 5 after surgery, and the patient was discharged on day 10 without other complications. The patient is currently under follow-up observation through outpatient care.