Metastatic Tracheal Tumor of Thyroid Origin: Endoscopic Diode Laser Treatment Combined With Thyroidectomy, Radioactive Iodine, and Radiotherapy

Abstract

Tracheal metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an unprecedented and rare entity. We present the case of a 65 year-old lady who suffered from dyspnea and a thyroid goiter that turned out to be PTC. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the lungs revealed a huge tracheal mass causing obstruction of the tracheal lumen. She underwent a surgical tracheostomy and diode laser debulking of the tumor. Following this, she had a total thyroidectomy and postoperative radioiodine ablation and radiotherapy. She remains well under close and regular follow-up. A secondary tracheal tumor usually comes from a lymphatic spread of the primary tumor, whereas the vascular route is rarely reported. Endoscopic minimally invasive laser tracheal surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy appears to be equally effective to more aggressive tracheal resections.