Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid masquerading as metastatic carcinoma of the lung: a rare case scenario

Abstract

Abstract Background The intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid gland is exceedingly rare since the ectopic thyroid was discovered. Only eight cases have been reported in the worldwide literature. We present a case of multiple intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid glands with nodular goiter in a 10-year-old girl. Case presentation The girl was found with multiple intrapulmonary nodules in bilateral lungs during the treatment of nodular goiter. The intrapulmonary lesions were initially thought to be a high possibility of metastatic cancer. A computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was performed, and the pathological examination confirmed that the diagnosis was ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid. Conclusion The ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid should be considered when children with nodular goiter presenting with suspected metastases in the lung.

Keywords

• Intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid gland
• Intrapulmonary nodules
• Metastatic cancer
• Nodular goiter