Intratracheal thyroid tissue presenting with stridor. A case report.

Intratracheal thyroid is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction. The obstruction may be true ectopic thyroid tissue or may be caused by invasion of the trachea by a malignant process. We present a case of true ectopic thyroid which illustrates the presentation and management of the condition. The pathogenesis of intratracheal thyroid has been postulated by several authors; here we discuss these rival theories. Because intratracheal thyroid is a rare condition, it may not always be considered early on in case of upper airway obstruction--by presenting this case we hope to remind others of it.