Mediastinal ectopic thyroid is a rare condition in which benign thyroid tissue manifests in an area other than its normal anatomical location. This report describes a 63‐year‐old female who was incidentally found via chest CT scan to have a right paratracheal soft tissue mass compressing and displacing the trachea to the left. She underwent an elective resection revealing unremarkable thyroid tissue. Subsequent neck ultrasound confirmed the presence of cervical thyroid supporting a diagnosis of ectopic thyroid tissue. The epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and management of mediastinal ectopic thyroids are discussed within this case report. Accurate diagnosis and management of ectopic thyroid relies on a combination of imaging studies and histological examination to confirm the presence of the thyroid tissue. Treatment for ectopic thyroid tissue depends on the nature of the symptoms and the potential risk of malignancy.
Summers et al. (Wed,) studied this question.