Lingual thyroid: a rare cause of difficult intubation

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Endocrinology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Oropharyngeal masses can pose significant airway management challenges.
• Ectopic lingual thyroid is a rare congenital anomaly, often presenting as a neck mass.

Observation:

• A patient presented with an oropharyngeal mass requiring biopsy.
• High risk for mask ventilation and direct laryngoscopy was identified.
• Awake fiberoptic intubation was chosen as the airway management strategy.

Findings:

• Awake fiberoptic intubation was successfully performed, securing the airway.
• Biopsy of the oropharyngeal mass revealed thyroid tissue.
• The diagnosis of ectopic lingual thyroid was established.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of careful airway assessment in patients with oropharyngeal masses.
• Successful awake intubation can be a critical intervention in managing challenging airways.
• Diagnosis of ectopic lingual thyroid requires consideration in the differential diagnosis of neck masses.