Two Cases of Benign Thyroid Tumor Inducing Acute Upper Airway Distress / 대한이비인후과학회지

Generally, the gradual onset of symptoms relating to the upper airway tract may be associated with thyroid tumors involving the tracheal lumen or with large masses compressing the trachea. Even though thyroid diseases are quite common in the general population, acute airway distress due to tracheal compression by thyroid masses rarely occur. Upper airway infection and hemorrhage into the thyroid may precipitate acute symptoms that cause stridor. We experienced two cases of rapidly enlarging benign tumor of the thyroid causing the acute onset of upper airway distress symptoms. So we present the cases with a review of the related literatures.