Intratracheal Ectopic Thyroid Tissue with Adenomatous Hyperplasia in a Pregnant Woman

W161 resembling those of the orthotopic thyroid gland. Moreover, there was a connection between the nodule and the thyroid gland at the posterior wall of the trachea (Figs. 1B–1E). Because thyroid malignancy was suspected and because the patient elected to undergo therapeutic abortion, 131I scanning was performed after acquiring written informed consent for the study. The thyroid glands showed mild diffuse enlargement with slightly reduced radioactive iodine uptake (10.3%). However, no focal hot uptake was observed within the intratracheal nodule. An intratracheal nodule biopsy performed by rigid bronchoscopy revealed thyroid tissue with adenomatous hyperplasia. For confirmative diagnosis and treatment, segmental resection and anastomosis of the trachea were executed at the lesion site. At surgery, a relatively well-circumscribed, tan softtissue nodule was found in the lumen of the trachea (Fig. 1F). The nodule was connected to the thyroid gland at the posterior wall of the trachea. Histopathologic examination revealed variously sized hyperplastic thyroid follicles containing colloid beneath the ciliated columnar epithelium, suggestive of ectopic thyroid tissue with adenomatous hyperplasia (Fig. 1G). The orthotopic thyroid gland also showed adenomatous hyperplasia. The patient had an uneventful hospital course after surgery.