Primary thyroid carcinoma found with esophageal stenosis: report of a case

The typical symptoms of primary thyroid cancer are a cervical mass and cervical lymphadenopathy, while dyspnea, hoarseness, or dysphagia can occur in the presence of extrathyroidal involvement. Esophageal involvement or stenosis causing dysphagia without any influence on the trachea is rare because of the anatomical location of the esophagus and the trachea. We report herein a case of primary thyroid carcinoma advancing behind the esophagus with the trachea intact, which was difficult to diagnose by esophagoscopy or roentgenogram. Thus, thyroid tumors need to be differentiated from other possible causes of esophageal stenosis. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography are useful diagnostic modalities to detect thyroid tumors causing esophageal stenosis.