Aspiration biopsy cytology of ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral chest wall: a case report
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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Husain A Saleh1, Jamal Hammoud, Mahendra B Shah
1Department of Pathology, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Center, 6071 West Outer Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48235, USA. hsaleh@med.wayne.edu
Insights
Ectopic thyroid tissue, a rare condition, can occur in unusual locations like the chest wall. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) can help diagnose these rare thyroid abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare congenital anomaly.
- It most commonly presents along the midline of the neck.
- Unusual locations for ectopic thyroid tissue can pose diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old female patient presented with a left lateral chest wall mass.
- Initial fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) suggested ectopic thyroid tissue.
- Subsequent tissue biopsy and immunostains confirmed the diagnosis.
Findings:
- This case represents the first reported instance of ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral chest wall.
- The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining.
- The patient had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.
Implications:
- Cytopathologists must consider ectopic thyroid tissue in differential diagnoses for masses in unusual locations.
- Increased awareness of ectopic thyroid tissue in aberrant sites is crucial for accurate FNAB interpretation.
- This case highlights the importance of comprehensive evaluation for rare presentations of thyroid abnormalities.
Background:
Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare abnormality that mainly occurs in the midline of the neck but also in other unusual locations. Because fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a widely used procedure for evaluating head and neck and other palpable masses, sampling of these lesions may be encountered.
Case:
A 66-year-old woman presented with left lateral chest wall mass during follow-up for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Initial evaluation by FNAB suggested ectopic thyroid tissue, which was confirmed later by tissue biopsy and immunostains. This is the first reported case of ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral chest wall area.
Conclusion:
Awareness of this abnormality and the possibility of ectopic thyroid tissue in erratic locations will help cytopathologists make the correct interpretation on FNAB sampling.
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