Compromised Airway Secondary to Thyroid Carcinoma – a Case Report

Abstract

Difficult airway management is a dilemma for any anaesthesiologist. In the following case we encountered an acutely enlarging thyroid mass that was compromising the airway. Due to the huge neck mass which caused airway compression leading to breathlessness and difficulty in breathing in supine position. This 70 years old male was being investigated for a swelling in the anterior neck region and had sudden increase in the size of swelling. He became breathless and could not breathe in supine posture. Biopsy revealed the swelling to be follicular carcinoma of the thyroid with bilateral lung metastasis. His breathing difficulty compelled us to contemplate emergency tracheostomy because of decreased in saturation and severe respiratory distress.