Background

An anterior mediastinal mass may be asymptomatic and incidentally discovered on imaging examinations. It could origin compression or local invasion of nerves trunks (causing hoarseness pain, paralysis of the diaphragm or vocal cords), vascular structures (causing superior vena cava syndrome), airways (causing dyspnea, cough), esophagus (causing dysphagia), and bone [1].

The main differential diagnosis of a space occupying lesion at the anterior mediastinum, includes thymic lesions (thymoma), lymphoma, germ cell tumors (teratoma), and thyroid lesions including goiter [1, 2].

Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare embryological aberration described by the occurrence of thyroid tissue at a site other than in its normal pretracheal location. It comprises approximately 1% of mediastinal tumors [2].

The thyroid develops as an endodermal bud from the anterior floor of the pharynx and descends down on either side of the trachea to its pretracheal location, where it merges with the caudal prolongation of the fourth pharyngeal pouch to form the thyroid gland. Depending on the time of the disruption during embryogenesis, ectopic thyroid may occur at several positions from the base of the tongue to the thyroglossal duct [3, 4].

Mediastinal thyroid tissue has occasionally been reported to arise from a displacement of the thyroid remnants into the mediastinum with the heart as it migrates downward.

Ectopic thyroid gland tissue can occur either as the only detectable thyroid gland tissue or in addition to a normotopic thyroid gland. After a total thyroidectomy, thyroid-stimulating hormone can promote a compensatory volume growth of previously asymptomatic ectopic tissue. This ectopic tissue can arise as an ambiguous space-occupying lesion [5].

Ectopic mediastinal thyroid tissue is normally asymptomatic, but particularly after orthotopic thyroidectomy it might turn out to be symptomatic. Symptoms are normally due to compression of adjacent structures [5, 6].

CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) findings of an ectopic mediastinal thyroid are not specific. However, its enhancement characteristics and morphological features are similar to the normal thyroid tissue in the pretracheal location, which, in suspicious cases, may be a clue to the diagnosis. A radionuclide thyroid scan can confirm the diagnosis.

Commonly, malignant transformation in ETT is rare [7]. However, these lesions must be resected surgically due to the risks of malignant transformation, gradual enlargement, and risk of hemorrhage within the mass. If the patient refuses surgery, regular imaging monitoring is recommended in order to identify initial signs or symptoms of thyroid dysfunction or malignant transformation [8].

Case presentation

We present a case of a 66-year-old male submitted to a total thyroidectomy 3 years ago, due to multinodular goiter (pathological results revealed nodular hyperplasia and no evidence of malignancy), under thyroid replacement therapy. Over the last year, he developed hoarseness, choking sensation in the chest, and shortness of breath. Thyroid markers were unremarkable. He was submitted to a neck and thoracic CT, MRI, and radionuclide thyroid scan.

Imaging findings demonstrated an absent orthotopic thyroid gland, consistent with the history of total thyroidectomy. CT scan (Fig. 1) imaging revealed a well-circumscribed, homogeneously enhancing tissue, showing some calcifications, at the level of the anterior mediastinum, at pre-vascular space, measuring 49 × 25 mm.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Axial CT scan before ev contrast (a); axial (b) and coronal (c) CT scan after ev contrast demonstrating homogeneously enhancing tissue (red arrow), showing some microcalcifications (blue arrows), at the level of the anterior mediastinum, at pre-vascular space

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MRI (Fig. 2, Fig. 3), demonstrated a heterogeneous lesion, with well-defined margins and regular contour, with heterogeneous hypointensity signal on T1 weighted images (WI), and slightly heterogeneous with areas of low and high signal intensity on T2WI. Small punctate foci of low signal intensity were seen on both T1 and T2WI sequences due to microcalcifications. The lesion was well demarcated from the adjacent mediastinal structures, with slightly displacing of the left venous brachiocephalic trunk. No restriction to diffusion was observed.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Axial T1 (a) and T2WI (b) demonstrating heterogeneous anterior mediastinal mass, with well-defined margins and regular contour, with heterogeneous hypointensity signal on T1WI (blue arrow), and heterogeneous with areas of low and high signal intensity on T2WI (green arrow)

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Coronal T1 Dixon (a); Sagittal T1 Vibe Dixon (b) and coronal T1 after gadolinium (c) demonstrating a well-circumscribed, heterogeneously enhancing tissue (red arrow), at the level of the anterior mediastinum, at pre-vascular space (blue arrow). The lesion is well demarcated from the adjacent mediastinal structures, with slightly displacing and compression of left venous brachiocephalic trunk (green arrow)

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The lesion demonstrated avid and progressive enhancement.

Given the patient’s history, these findings were suggestive of developing mediastinal ectopic thyroid mass after orthotopic thyroidectomy, compressing the laryngeal nerve. Scintigraphy was performed (Fig. 4), showing ectopic functioning thyroid tissue at anterior mediastinum. The patient refused surgery; therefore, imaging surveillance will be implemented.

Fig. 4
figure 4

a, b Radionuclide thyroid scan demonstrating mediastinal anterior functioning thyroid tissue

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Conclusions

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare entity, and can be challenging to diagnose. Differentiating this entity from other mediastinal masses is particularly important since the diagnosis affects management and outcome.

Benign mediastinal ETTs are usually asymptomatic and are found incidentally. Surgical intervention should always be considered in the course of diagnosing the nature of the mediastinal mass even in elderly patients. This is because of the high risk of tracheal compression and the low morbidity of the surgery [9, 10].

Surgical excision of mediastinal masses is done either through thoracotomy or sternotomy according to the location of the mass [11].

Main differential diagnoses of anterior mediastinal mass includes thymic tumors, lymphomas and dermoid cysts.

Ectopic mediastinal thyroid tissue should be considered when an anterior mediastinal lesion is identified, particularly when developed after orthotopic thyroidectomy.