[Thyroid carcinoma as a cause of upper airway obstruction in children. Case report]

Rev Med Chil. 2006 Jun;134(6):772-6. doi: 10.4067/s0034-98872006000600015. Epub 2006 Aug 14.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Upper airway obstruction (UAO) can be a severe medical condition with a high mortality in children. We report a 10 year-old girl with UAO due to papillary thyroid carcinoma. The study confirmed a thyroid cancer. The patient was referred to our centre for the evaluation of dyspnea and hoarseness. She was admitted in severe respiratory distress. Her chest X-ray revealed a critical narrowing of the cervical trachea and extensive infiltration of the lung with a miliary pattern; CT scan revealed a thyroid mass with bilateral pulmonary dissemination. An early surgical approach with total thyroidectomy and tracheotomy was performed. The study revealed a thyroid carcinoma. The patient was then referred to a specialized centre to receive radioiodine treatment [corrected] Recognition of thyroid carcinoma in children requires a high suspicion index. An early CT scan and fiberoptic assessment could show UAO in many unsuspected lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology*
  • Airway Obstruction / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / surgery
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheotomy