Thyroid Cartilage Hemangioma: Presentation, Imaging, Pathology, and Approach to Resection and Reconstruction

Thyroid cartilage hemangiomas are exceedingly rare. We present a rare case of an expansile tumor within the right thyroid ala that was suspected to represent a chondrosarcoma but was found on pathology to represent a hemangioma. Imaging and pathologic features are reviewed as well as approach to resection and reconstruction.

A 46-year-old male presented with progressive neck fullness and decreased vocal range. He was found to have an expansile mass within the right thyroid ala with associated supraglottic fullness on flexible laryngoscopy. Initial primary differential consideration was chondrosarcoma versus chondroma. He underwent open resection with reconstruction of the right thyroid ala using a rib graft and titanium plate which was used to secure the graft to the contralateral thyroid ala and the ipsilateral inner thyroid perichondrium. Intraoperative frozen sections indicated atypical cartilage cells, but final histopathology revealed a hemangioma with suspected reactive changes in the thyroid cartilage.

This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with rare presentations of hemangiomas in atypical locations, such as the thyroid cartilage. It is one of the first reports of hemangioma occurring within the thyroid cartilage. Excision with reconstruction using a rib graft can be employed for large thyroid cartilage tumors.